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Archbishop Listecki: Milwaukee, Not Rome at Fault in Murphy Abuse Scandal Catholic Culture March 31, 2010 http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5885 MILWAUKEE (WI) -- Apologizing to victims of clerical abuse, Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee said in his March 30 Chrism Mass homily that Milwaukee bishops-- implicitly Archbishop William Cousins (1958-77) and Archbishop Rembert Weakland (1977-2002)-- were at fault in the handling of Father Lawrence Murphy's abuse of deaf children. "As a bishop, a priest, and as a man of faith, I apologize to anyone who has been a victim of clergy sexual abuse," Archbishop Listecki said. "This crime, this sin, this horror, should never occur, especially by a priest. Those who committed these crimes and those, including some bishops, who didn't do everything in their power to stop it, go against everything the Church and the priesthood represent. For those actions, I offer my sincere apology." He continued: This past week our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has come under criticism for the way he has handled past cases of clergy sexual abuse of minors, including a case here involving Lawrence Murphy. The allegations against him, as well as the facts supporting him, are widely available."Even though some do not want to hear it or accept it as truth, mistakes were made by law enforcement, medical professionals-- even reporters who helped bring initial stories to light and grappled with how to deal with perpetrators," Archbishop Listecki added. "We have ALL learned so much." "We cannot deny the past, but because of all of it, during these past years we have become a more prudent Church. We have taken significant steps to purge this abuse from our Church and even from the larger society. We hope and pray our actions have become a model for what TO do after decades of what NOT to do." |
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