Rev. Franklyn William Becker—Assignment Record

Includes detailed assignment record, sources, summary of assignments, documents, and notes.

Ordained: 5/30/64

   

Start Stop Parish Town State Position Notes

7/1/64

Archbishop was William E. Cousins (1958-77)

9/9/68 Holy Assumption West Allis WI 4/4, curate. Priests were Revs. Philip J. Rose, James F. Koneazny, Carroll C. Straub, and Becker. In 1965, Rev. Alphonse P. Rumbac replaced Koneazny. In 1977, Rev. Terrence C. Tebo replaced Straub.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese.

Parish school had 690 pupils in 1964-65.

9/9/68 2/15/72 St. John de Nepomuc (Bohemian) Milwaukee WI 3/3, 2/3, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Joseph J. Wamser, Joseph H. Coerber, and Becker. In 1971, Rev. Wendel J. Badem replaced Wamser, Coerber left, and Rev. Francis Wirz arrived in residence.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese.

Parish school had 318 pupils in 1968-69.

2/15/72 6/18/74 Holy Family Whitefish Bay WI 2/2, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Harold J. Ide and Becker. In 1973, Rev. Robert J. McCormick replaced Ide.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese.

Parish school had 255 pupils in 1972-73.

6/18/74 1/16/75 St. William's Waukesha WI 2/2, associate pastor. Priests were Rev. Donald F. Quartana and Becker.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese.

Parish school had 254 pupils in 1974-75.

1/16/75

Bishop was Joseph H. Hodges (1962-85)

8/1/76 Marshall University Huntington WV Campus minister.

In the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, but Becker was still indexed as a Milwaukee priest.

In the 1976 Directory, Becker is indexed as on other asssignment and listed at Marshall Universtity's chapel address. The universtity is not named and Becker's title is not given.

8/1/76

Archbishop was Cardinal John J. Carberry (1968-79)

10/3/76 St. Louis University St. Louis MO Campus minister. In the St. Louis archdicoese, but Becker was still incardinated in Milwaukee.
10/3/76 6/24/77 Awaiting assignment        

6/24/77

Bishop of San Diego was Leo T. Maher (1969-90)

Archbishop of Milwaukee was Rembert G. Weakland (1977-2002)

3/79 St. Brigid's San Diego CA 3/3. Priests were Revs. Lloyd V. Bourgeois, Ramon R. Marrufo, and Becker. In 1978, Rev. Richard J. Cefalu replaced Marrufo.

In the San Diego diocese, but Becker was listed as a Milwaukee priest.

No parish school.

3/79

 

8/1/79 Awaiting assignment        

8/1/79

 

7/1/80 St. Margaret Mary's Milwaukee WI 2/4, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Raymond E. Vint, Becker, Richard E. Mirsberger, and Thomas F. Wittliff.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese

Parish school had 456 pupils.

7/1/80 8/12/80 St. Joseph's Lyons WI 1/1, administrator.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese

Parish school had 47 pupils in 1979-80.

7/1/80 8/12/80 St. Kilian's Lyons WI 1/1, administrator. Mission attended from St. Joseph's in Lyons.
8/12/80 12/9/80 St. Eugene's Fox Point WI Associate pastor. Rev. William H. Mackin was pastor until 10/80, when he became emeritus and Msgr. William N. Schuit became pastor. It is not clear whether Becker overlapped with Revs. Richard J. Cerpich or Michael G. Barrett, who are listed as associates in the 1980 and 1981 Directories respectively.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese

Parish school had 302 pupils in 1980-81.

12/9/80 1/25/83 St. John's South Milwaukee WI 2/2, 2/3, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. William M. Heffron and Becker. In 1981, Rev. Victor L. Swaska arrived in residence.

In the Milwaukee archdiocese

Parish school had 136 pupils in 1981-82.

1/25/83 9/1/83 Sick Leave        
9/1/83 1/1/84 St. Joseph Hospital Milwaukee WI Clinical pastoral education.  
1/1/84 11/6/84 Awaiting Assignment        
11/6/84 10/1/90 West Allis Memorial Hospital West Allis WI Chaplain.  
10/1/90 7/1/93 Awaiting Assignment        
7/1/93 4/2002 Unassigned with Restricted Ministry        
4/2002   Restricted from All Public Ministry        
5/10/03   Becker is arrested        
5/27/03   Dolan requests Becker's laicization       See Dolan letter to Ratzinger about scandal.
12/04   Becker notified that he has been laicized        
   

       


Sources


- Official Catholic Directory (New York: Kenedy & Sons, 1965-2006)
- Milwaukee archdiocesan assignment record
- The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, by Peter Isely and Jim Smith, February 10, 2004
- Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Suits against Archdiocese, by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, August 29, 2006
- Dismissal of Abuse Lawsuits Upheld: Accusers in Wisconsin Cannot Sue Archdiocese; Those in California Can, by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, August 30, 2006
- $17 Million Settles 10 Abuse Cases: Archdiocese Will Sell Cousins Center; Insurance to Pay Half, by Tom Heinen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 1, 2006
- Money Given to Clergyman Accused of Sexual Abuse Questioned, TheMilwaukeeChannel.com, September 7, 2006
- Archdiocese Avoids Bankruptcy with Sex-Abuse Settlement, by Brian T. Olszewski, Catholic Online, September 7, 2006
- Former Milwaukee Area Priest Among Those Named, by Allison Hoffman, Chippewa Herald, March 30, 2007
- Priests of Dioceses Outside San Diego/San Bernardino Against Whom There Are Credible Allegations, Diocese of San Diego, 3/30/07
- Archdiocese Asks State High Court to Dismiss Assault Suits, by Pat Schneider, Capital Times, April 25, 2007
- Archdiocese Funds Find Way Back Home, by Jim Stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 24, 2007
- Priests' Privacy Rights Cannot Override Protection of Children, by John Manly, Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 6, 2007
- Court: Abuse Victims Can Sue Wis. Church Officials for Fraud, by Ryan J. Foley, Pioneer Press, July 11, 2007
- Clergy Abuse Victims Gain in Court Ruling, Journal Times, July 13, 2007
- - Documents Detail Church Coverup: Newly Released Records from a California Lawsuit Settlement Show the Extent of the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese's Efforts to Conceal Priest's Sex Abuse, by Marie Rhode and Mary Zahn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 31, 2008
- Becker Case: Franklyn Becker's Service As a Priest, Highlighting Important Abuse and Coverup-Related Events, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 1, 2008
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee Records Regarding Father Franklyn Becker, JS Online, January 31, 2008
- Summary of Franklyn Becker Documents, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, February 1, 2008
- Archbishop Dolan's Letter to the Catholic Community, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, February 1, 2008
- Clergy Abuse Victim Donates Settlement Money, WISN, February 21, 2008
- Deposition of Archbishop Rembert Weakland, June 5-6, 2008 [with links to document exhibits]
- Archbishop Timothy Dolan—Clergy Abuse Fact Sheet, by Peter Isely, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, February 18, 2009 [with links to articles]

Assignment Summary

1976            St. Louis MO (chaplain)
1976-1977  Awaiting assignment
1977-1979  St. Brigid's, San Diego CA (associate pastor)
1979-1980  St. Margaret Mary's, Milwaukee WI (associate pastor)
1980            St. Joseph's, Lyons WI (administrator)
1980            St. Eugene's, Fox Point WI (associate pastor)
1980-1983  St. John's, South Milwaukee WI (associate pastor)
1983            Sick leave
1983-1984  St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee WI (clinical pastoral education)
1984            Awaiting assignment
1984-1990  West Allis Memorial Hospital, West Allis WI (chaplain)
1990-1993  Awaiting assignment
1993-2002  Unassigned with restricted ministry
2002           Resricted from all public ministry

 

Documents

The following links offer various ways to view the documents relating to Becker's career and the allegations against him. Some of these documents have been published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and posted by attorney Jeff Anderson on his website. BishopAccountability.org has obtained from Anderson the full Becker file as obtained in discovery.

Documents Relating to Becker's Laicization and Archdiocesan Financial Assistance:

- Letter from Archbishop Dolan to Cardinal Ratzinger, promising assistance to Becker from a "special fund" (5/27/03)

- See also a group of letters between Dolan and the Vatican regarding Becker's laicization.

- Status Report by Deacon Zimprich on Meeting with Becker, discussing laicization and Becker's recent $10K "settlement" with the Milwaukee archdiocese (2/2/05)

- Status Report by Deacon Zimprich after Phone Call with Becker, discussing the $10K payment to Becker, Dolan's refusal to pay for Becker's health insurance from fear of liability, and Becker's threat to tell "all he knows" (2/8/05)

 

- Documents Detail Church Coverup: Newly Released Records from a California Lawsuit Settlement Show the Extent of the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese's Efforts to Conceal Priest's Sex Abuse, by Marie Rhode and Mary Zahn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 31, 2008 [with images of documents and links to them]

- Becker Case: Franklyn Becker's Service As a Priest, Highlighting Important Abuse and Coverup-Related Events, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 1, 2008 [with links to documents]

- Archdiocese of Milwaukee Records Regarding Father Franklyn Becker, JS Online, January 31, 2008 [with links to documents]

- Dolan-Cardinal Ratzinger Letters, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011

- Archdiocese Vicar Log, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011

- Background Becker Documents 1970-1997, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011

- Background Becker Documents 2001-2005, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011

- Complete Becker File: Part 1 of 8, posted by BishopAccountability.org, March 2, 2011

- Complete Becker File: Part 2 of 8, posted by BishopAccountability.org, March 2, 2011



Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.

This assignment record presents Becker's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegations against Becker. We remind our readers that in the U.S. judicial system, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

A Note on Nomenclature: We use the term "assignment record," instead of the more common "service record," because "service" is not an appropriate word for the activities of an abusive priest. Dioceses are often less than forthcoming about the activities of retired priests, but when we can determine those activities, we list them in these assignment records, particularly if they involve ministry. Retired priests remain under obedience to their bishop, and even the activities of laicized priests should be a concern to the diocese.

This assignment record was last updated on 3/2/11.