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	Group Accuses Bishop of Destroying Abuse-related Files By Ann Rodgers Pittsburgh Post-Gazette December 21, 2010 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10355/1112419-100.stm A victims' advocacy group has accused Bishop David Zubik of destroying the records of priest sex abusers when he was bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., but the bishop says he was following federal law regarding medical records and that no cases that were legally active were involved. "The accusations made by SNAP are totally without substance," he said in a statement yesterday. "There was never an order issued by me -- nor anyone else -- to destroy documents or evidence contained in the files of priests accused of abuse while I served as bishop of Green Bay. To the contrary, it had been diocesan practice in Green Bay not to destoy documents in priest files -- even after a priest had died -- if there was litigation involving that priest or any pending claims. I reinforced that practice by having it formally written into the diocesan records retention policy in 2007." Bishop Zubik led the Diocese of Green Bay from 2003 to 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI returned him to his native Pittsburgh. On Tuesday the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests asked for a court injunction preventing the Diocese of Green Bay from destroying any priest personnel files, and also asked the U.S. attorney for Eastern Wisconsin to investigate Bishop Zubik and Green Bay diocesan officials for "possible obstruction of justice." The group's evidence was a deposition from the Rev. John Doerfler, chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay, who said that in 2007 the diocese destroyed detailed medical reports on all priests -- unless there was a claim pending -- in order to comply with federal laws on medical privacy. He said that records of all priests who had been dead for more than a year were destroyed unless there was pending legal action involving their ministry. Ann Rodgers: arodgers@post-gazette.com
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