Group to Review Policies Dealing with Sexual Abuse Allegations

Howard Eisenberg, the Dean of Marquette University's Law School, will head a newly-appointed commission to review policies used by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee when dealing with allegations of sexual abuse by priests. The five-person commission was appointed by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., and was announced March 25, 2002. Other commission members include attorney and victim advocate Sr. Mary Howard Johnstone; licensed psychologist Dr. Anthony Kuchan, Ph.D.; Dr Art Derse, M.D.; Dr. Donald Hands, Ph.D.

Johnstone is a former assistant district attorney who was in charge of the Domestic Violence Unit from 1984 to 1990 and is a member of the Project Benjamin advisory board. Kuchan is a retired professor from Marquette University and the former chairman of the Marquette Department of Psychology. Derse is the Director of Medical and Legal Affairs and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Hands is psychologist supervisor at the Milwaukee Secure Detention facility and an ordained Episcopalian priest.

"The issue of sexual abuse is a significant one for both the Catholic Church and all of society," Eisenberg said. "I am pleased that Archbishop Weakland has continued to look outside the Church structure for assistance in setting and implementing policy that addresses how allegations are handled, how victims are cared for, and how perpetrators are held accountable."

The scope of the commission's work will be to examine the policies in place since the early 1990s regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving priests and minors. Also included will be a review of how the archdiocese has dealt with victims who have come forward, particularly through Project Benjamin. Finally, the commission will conduct a specific examination of how the archdiocese has handled perpetrators, including criminal reporting, therapy, and any current priestly assignment.

"Each of us recognizes the importance of this commission and the need for the Church to have external review of its procedures," Eisenberg said. "Of particular importance is that people have faith that any allegation is properly handled and that the appropriate checks and balances are in place to avoid placing any child or teen at risk."

Eisenberg joined the Marquette faculty as Dean and Professor in July 1995. A native of Chicago, Eisenberg attended University of Wisconsin Law School and clerked for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Horace Wilkie.

"The commission will have access to individual case files and will be given other information they deem important to their work or that may be of special concern to them," said Archbishop Weakland. "If their work is completed before my retirement, I will accept the recommendations they make and implement the decisions. Otherwise, I will hand over the report to my successor