Archbishop Listecki Reacts to the Release of Clergy Abuse Files

By Laura Rodriguez
CBS 58
July 2, 2013

http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Archbishop-Listecki-reacts-to-the-release-of-clergy-abuse-files-214076301.html

[with video]

Moments after the Archdiocese of Milwaukee released its history of clergy sexual abuse, the attention seemed to zero in on the former archbishop rather than the current archbishop.

"That's the big picture about Cardinal Dolan, but today it's about that letter. That in our opinion is a smoking gun," said Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director.

According to the documents released on the archdiocese website, in 2007, Archbishop Dolan letter sent a letter to the Vatican to request the transfer of about $57 million from a cemetery fund into a trust.

"To protect the fund is due diligence, in terms of leadership, to make sure that that is established the way it is," said Archbishop Listecki.

In the letter, Dolan writes: "I foresee improved protection from any legal claim."

CBS58's Laura Rodriguez asked Archbishop Listecki if he thought those "legal claims" referred to claims by abuse survivors.

Listecki's response was the following:

"No, I think what those legal claims refer to is that the funds, and we're talking about the perpetual care for the cemetery, so the funds were always kept and protected as a trust by the archdiocese. The added aspect of putting the legality around it...the instrument...gave it that insured protection."

Listecki says he's made an effort to combat clergy sexual abuse, namely, the creation and implementation of Sexual Abuse Awareness Week in diocesan schools.