Bishop Martin J. Amos speaks to the media in Davenport Thursday after being named the new head of the Diocese of Davenport. He will succeed Bishop William Franklin, 76, whose retirement has been accepted by the Vatican. Amos, 64, has been an auxiliary bishop in Cleveland, since 2001. He was ordained a priest in 1968. Photo by Larry Fisher / Associated Press

		Davenport Diocese recent developments
		SEPT. 18: A Scott County jury awarded $1.5 million to a Davenport man who alleged he was sexually abused nearly 50 years ago by a high-ranking priest in the Davenport Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. D. Michl Uhde testified he was sexually abused when he was 7 by Monsignor Thomas Feeney, vicar general of the Davenport Diocese. It was the first time the diocese had gone to trial to defend itself from abuse allegations. MONDAY: Regina Catholic Education Center officials held an Iowa City press conference stating they will file bankruptcy if they lose an Oct. 23 jury trial in a lawsuit that named the school, the Davenport Diocese and retired Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens. In the lawsuit, Michael Gould alleged that he was sexually abused by Soens when Soens was a diocesan priest and principal of then-Regina High School. TUESDAY: District Judge C.H. Pelton dismissed Regina from the lawsuit, ruling that the school's liability for claims expired in 1972, five years after Gould last attended Regina High School. TUESDAY: The Davenport Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, freezing the $1.5 million jury award, putting future abuse claims in limbo.

		Talk about it
		What do you think the diocese should do if it loses a sex-abuse lawsuit filed against the diocese and one of its former priests, Bishop Lawrence Soens, who later headed the Sioux City diocese?

The Diocese of Davenport's new bishop, Martin J. Amos, is well equipped to meet the challenges facing the troubled diocese, according to people who know him well.

Amos, who was introduced to his new flock at a Thursday press conference at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, comes to Iowa after serving since 2001 as auxiliary bishop in Cleveland, Ohio.

Amos, 64, said he is "anxious and at the same time excited about this new path on my journey." He added that he and retiring Bishop William Franklin "briefly discussed ... the serious issues facing the diocese."

In May 2005, Franklin, 76, asked the Vatican to let him retire.

"I am now the second-oldest bishop of a diocese in the United States and the seventh- oldest bishop of a diocese in the world," Franklin said Thursday. He will serve as apostolic administrator until Amos is installed Nov. 20.

Paul Doren of Newton, a lifelong Catholic and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said he's glad Franklin will be able to retire.

"(The scandal) has been a terrible burden for Bishop Franklin. It has to have been always on his mind since he became a bishop. He is just a human being like everyone else. I believe Franklin did an excellent job of trying to do what he thought was right. He handled the scandal as well as anyone could."

The Vatican's announcement came two days after Franklin asked a federal bankruptcy court for Chapter 11 protection for the diocese. The move freezes a recent $1.5 million jury award in a child sexual abuse lawsuit against the diocese and puts all future abuse claims in limbo.

Rand Wonio, attorney for the diocese, said Amos was consulted before Franklin filed bankruptcy papers.

"I know we need to continue to reach out to those touched by abuse and to continue to strengthen the protection of children and young people," Amos said. "The recent decision to declare bankruptcy will have serious implications."

One of Amos' former parishioners at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Richard G. Stuhan of Cleveland, believes "nobody is better equipped to deal with these kinds of problems."

"He will reach out with compassion to the victims while at the same time offering fairness for accused priests," Stuhan said.

The Cleveland Diocese has had its own struggle to address the sexual abuse scandal that has shaken the Roman Catholic Church since 2002. It has said that 117 priests and one deacon were accused of sexually abusing children of the diocese in the past 53 years.

The diocese has paid about $21 million to individuals alleging they were abused by diocesan priests. Fewer than a half dozen abuse claims remain unsettled. All of the money came from the diocese property and casualty reserve fund and the diocese remains on strong financial footing, according to Robert Tayek, director of media and public relations for the diocese.

The diocese was shaken earlier this year when its former finance officer and chief legal officer was accused of financial impropriety.

"None of these matters were under the purview of Bishop Amos," Tayek said. Amos' duties focused on special care of the southern districts of the diocese.

Leaders of Iowa Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said Thursday that they wished Amos well.

"With installation of a new bishop, we hope there will be change," said Steve Theisen of Hudson, Iowa director of the survivors network. "It will be difficult to accomplish due to the deep-rooted institutional attitude toward this crisis."

The Rev. Frank P. Kosem of Elyria, Ohio, has known Amos since they attended seminary.

"I think the world of him," Kosem said. "As bishop, he's going to be pastoral. He will listen to both sides. He never jumps to conclusions. He won't be afraid to make hard decisions and address difficult issues, and he can do it with humor. He's well balanced in Catholic tradition and well informed on current issues."