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  A Call for Reform: Group Pushes LA Crosse Diocese on Claims of Clergy Misconduct

By Anne Jungen
LaCrosse Tribune
August 6, 2010

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_602abb10-a118-11df-9fe4-001cc4c002e0.html

Peter Isely, Midwest Director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), speaks Thursday at a press conference outside of the Diocese of La Crosse. Isely and other members of SNAP submitted a letter to the diocese that suggests actions to be taken by incoming Bishop William Callahan when dealing with sexual abuse cases. Photo by Peter Thomson

Executives with a support group for victims of clergy abuse stood Thursday on the steps of the Diocese of La Crosse center, bearing a letter for incoming Bishop William Callahan.

They asked for Monsignor Richard Gilles. He's not in, a female voice said over an intercom.

The Rev. Joseph Hirsch? Not in, the voice repeated.

Any senior member of the diocese? Not available, the voice said.

The diocese's building director ended up accepting their letter.

"He's a sweet guy, but someone with a collar can come down," said Peter Isely, Midwest director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

SNAP called on Callahan, who will be installed as bishop Wednesday, to order within his first 100 days a law enforcement and professional review and investigation of all clergy abuse reports.

The organization also wants the new bishop, who did not respond Thursday to Tribune requests for comment, for a complete overhaul of the Child Sexual Abuse Review Board personnel policies and procedures. The board, which includes the diocesan attorney and several priests, doesn't meet often and doesn't keep records when they do, Isely said.

"Callahan has an unprecedented and unique opportunity to, in our minds, turn this diocese around," Isely said.

SNAP demanded as well that the diocese release a Lake Delton police report it received in September about a July 2009 incident involving the Rev. Patrick Umberger at a Wisconsin Dells water park.

Umberger, 59, reportedly followed several young boys in a bathroom in a children's area of Noah's Ark Water Park on July 22, 2009, according to the police report. He was found standing next to a urinal, but told an officer a prostate problem caused frequently urination.

The diocese said in a statement Wednesday it questioned Umberger about the incident and verified the medical condition.

Umberger was charged last month with possessing child pornography

after state agents reported finding three sexually graphic photographs of children on his computer. He resigned in late July as priest at St. Patrick's Church in Onalaska.

Isely asked the diocese to release details of the church's investigation and questioned why officials didn't contact the officer who made the report or a family and two water park employees who witnessed Umberger follow the boys into the bathroom.

"All of the evidence points to absolutely they did not do those things.

And if they did them, they need to say they did them," Isely said.

Isely also criticized the diocese's handling of a sexual abuse report against the Rev. Edmund Donkor-Baine. A female parishioner told Gilles in September that Donkor-Baine, a visiting priest, grabbed her breasts and forcing her to touch his genitals, both through clothing, while counseling her about her divorce in August.

The woman went to law enforcement in December after a diocese investigation concluded there was no evidence to support her claim, authorities said.

La Crosse County prosecutors have charged Donkor-Baine, 47, with fourth-degree sexual assault.

In both cases, Isely said, the diocese ended its investigation when the priests denied the claims.

"There's something in the system that is allowing this behavior and conduct to go on and when it's alerted, it's not being dealt with properly," he said.

Diocesan attorney Jim Birnbaum did not return phone calls Thursday.

Contact: ajungen@lacrossetribune.com

 
 

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