MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin
Over 500 sex abuse claims, a record number, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court against Milwaukee archdiocese
Statement by Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director
CONTACT 414.429.7259
Nine months ago, in solemn tones, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki announced he was seeking Federal bankruptcy protection for the archdiocese because of fraud cases filed against church officials for concealing and transferring known child sex offender clergy.
The archdiocese’s books were in the black. There were no trial dates set. There were no judgments pending.
In essence, Listecki was conceding that a jury of his peers–any jury–would find the archdiocese guilty of widespread and systematic corporate fraud.
In doing so, Listecki also made a dramatic and personal public appeal to every single person raped, sexually assaulted or abused by a priest or employee operating or working in the archdiocese to come forward and file a claim with the bankruptcy court as means of achieving a “final resolution” to the clergy abuse and cover up crisis.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.