Listecki To Address Clergy Abuse From Pulpit, by Tom Murray, WTMJ, March 30, 2010

Listecki To Address Clergy Abuse From Pulpit

By Tom Murray
WTMJ
March 30, 2010

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/89467812.html

MILWAUKEE (WI) -- Archbishop Jerome Listecki plans to address the latest developments in the clergy abuse scandal during the Tuesday evening Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Representatives from every parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee are expected to be in attendance.

Listecki defends the Pope's handling of clergy abuse cases.

"This Pope really did recognize that response and was on the forefront of reparation," Listecki told TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray.

Listecki also praised victims who have come forward.

"They were courageous and brought forth their stories," he said. "We're a better and a different church today then we were back then because of their stories."

Yet, some victim's criticize Listecki for not standing up to the Vatican. At a press conference Tuesday, the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests accuse Pope Benedict of dismissing victims.

"It seems like he's scared and trying to protect himself," said Arthur Budzinski, who says he is one of some 200 boys abused by Father Lawrence Murphy at St. John's School for the Deaf in St. Francis. "I'm not trying to hurt the Pope. He just needs to do something. I'm just telling my story."

Before becoming Pope, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger led the church's abuse watchdog agency. There are claims that have attracted worldwide attention that Ratzinger knew about the Murphy abuse, but did nothing to remove him from the priesthood.

At Palm Sunday Mass, Pope Benedict said faith in God helps lead one "toward the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion." Experts interpret that as Pope's response to the allegations he participated in a calculated cover up.

Murphy was in poor health at the time his case was brought to the Vatican's attention by Archbishop Rembert Weakland. Murphy died a short time after high-ranking church officials were made aware of the abuse.