MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin
Milwaukee Bankruptcy Judge’s unprecedented decision significantly harms archdiocese, even more than victims of clergy abuse
Milwaukee bankruptcy Judge’s unprecedented decision significantly harms archdiocese, even more than victims of clergy abuse
Kelley’s ruling to keep depositions of top church officials secret, along with 50,000 pages of documents leaves Catholics to carry the “endless shame” of child sex crimes, cover up
Statement by Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director and John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director
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In a devastating blow not only to victim/survivors but to Catholics and the public, Judge Susan V. Kelley ruled today that the testimony of bishops Rembert Weakland and Richard Sklba will remain under court seal. All other church bankruptcies, including the most recent this year in Wilmington, DE, have resulted in the public release of internal church abuse files, once victims’ names and identities have been removed.
Archbishop Weakland and his deputy Bishop Sklba oversaw and enabled the rape and sexual assault of countless children in our community. Their depositions, and some 50,000 pages of documents which record a quarter of a century of criminal activity will, at least for now, and perhaps permanently, be kept concealed not only from victims and their families, but also, and perhaps even more importantly, from Catholics in the archdiocese.
Breaking ranks with all other church bankruptcy judges in the US, Kelley suggested that releasing the depositions and documents would somehow violate victim confidentiality, although that has never occurred in a single instance, and can easily be remedied by redacting victims’ names and identities. She also said that the depositions were “scandalous” and would “embarrass” bishops who covered up these crimes, particularly Weakland.
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