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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee will hold listening sessions regarding clergy sexual abuse at six sites across the diocese on Thursday, May 16. The sessions will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following parishes:
St. Eugene Parish, 7600 N. Port Washington Rd., Fox Point; 414-918-1100
St. Gregory the Great Parish, 3160 S. 63rd St., Milwaukee; 414-543-8292
Holy Angels Parish, 126 N. 8th Ave., West Bend; 262-334-3038
St. John the Baptist Parish, 115 Plymouth St., Plymouth; 920-892-4006
St. John Vianney Parish, 1755 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield; 262-796-3940
St. Mary Parish, 108 McHenry St., Burlington; 262-763-1500
Designed to address and hear concerns of the Catholic community, the listening sessions will include opportunities for information sharing, small group discussion, structured feedback, and general comments and observations, according to Jerry Topczewski, archdiocesan communications director. Diocesan staff will serve as moderators and a representative from Project Benjamin, the archdiocese's office for response to sexual abuse, will assist.
"The information from each session will be compiled and given to our bishops, not only to help shape archdiocesan policy, but also for the bishops' use in helping to shape national policy,” Topczewski said. "Summaries of all sessions will be available on the archdiocesan web site so people can see what was said at all six sessions."
Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B. will attend one of the scheduled sessions, along with members of the special commission appointed to study sexual abuse allegations, a member of the Project Benjamin community advisory board, and archdiocesan deans.
"By holding the sessions on the same night, it gives us the opportunity to have the entire Church of southeastern Wisconsin focus on the issue of sexual abuse by clergy and the impact it has had on Catholics throughout our archdiocese -- both directly on those who have been victims and indirectly on others who are angry about how cases were handled," Topczewski said.
Question-and-answer information sheets and a summary of the commission recommendations will be distributed through parishes prior to the listening sessions, and will also be available on the archdiocesan website.
A session for victims of sexual abuse also is planned for May. The date, time and location are yet to be determined.
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