WISCONSIN
National Catholic Reporter

by Marie Rohde | Dec. 21, 2012

ASHIPPUN, WIS. — Fr. David Verhasselt, then pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Oconomowoc, Wis., was apprehensive when the Milwaukee archdiocese’s vicar for clergy, Fr. Patrick Heppe, called in April 2010 to set up a meeting at the parish office.

“He would not tell me what it was about at all,” Verhasselt said, speaking publicly on the matter for the first time. “I had never had such a visit before and it was mysterious.”

Heppe, accompanied by Fr. Paul Hartmann, the archdiocese’s judicial vicar, told Verhasselt that he had been accused of breaking the seal of confession. In a scene similar to firings in corporate America, Verhasselt was told to collect his private belongings, leave the parish and not return. As he was walked from the building, he was told to have no contact with parishioners….