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	Statue of Former Archbishop Weakland Stirs New Debate Fox 6 January 6, 2010 http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-100105-snap-weakland,0,6986976.story WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE - A statue and visit by a controversial former religious leader in Milwaukee are causing quite a stir. The former Archbishop Rembert Weakland is the focus of new criticism. "I couldn't believe it. That this was a practical joke that this was someone joking about this.", says SNAP Rep Peter Isley. The joke Isley is talking about is this statue. It has an image of former Archbishop Rembert Weakland. Isley, a member of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests(SNAP), says Weakland's image should not be the Cathedral of St. John. The statue, as well as a bust of Weakland stands in the Cathedral of St. John. Weakland left his position in 2002 after admitting to a sexual relationship with a seminary student decades earlier. Isley says,"this is an individual responsible for transferring, concealing and moving dozens of priests who sexually assaulted raped young children and immortalized himself in bronze." Isley wants Milwaukee's newest Archbishop, Jerome Listecki, to respond. Isley says, "This is an altar that people kneel to." Weakland himself will be back at St. John Tuesday speaking to 80 others in the Catholic ministry, sharing expertise about Cathedral renovations. FOX 6 asked Archbishop Weakland if he would give a reflection as to his mindset at the time of the renovation that motivated the renovation of the cathedral. As for the statues, Father Carl says Weakland's image represents the head of the local archdiocese at the time. Father Carl says, "I don't see a need to modify it. I think I've explained the intent of it and the focus of it. If some individual wants to say he doesn't see it that way it's his problem." The meeting regarding cathedral renovations is not open to the public, and is being hosted at the Cathedral of St. John. The meeting is not being run by the Catholic Archdiocese. In a statement released by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Wednesday afternoon, it says they are working towards healing and resolution with victims.
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