MILWAUKEE (WI)
National Catholic Reporter

Marie Rohde | Nov. 10, 2015

MILWAUKEE
It took less than two hours for a federal judge to approve a plan that will allow the Milwaukee archdiocese to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after nearly five years of legal battles.

Archbishop Jerome Listecki spoke briefly Nov. 9 in a courtroom packed with sexual abuse survivors and more than 20 lawyers. Listecki praised the abuse victims for coming forward, saying they had raised the consciousness of the archdiocese and elsewhere.

“There is no resolution that will bring back what they have lost,” said Listecki, adding that he hopes the confirmation of the plan will turn the corner for the archdiocese, allowing it to focus on charitable, educational and spiritual work. “When we have a strong church, we have a strong community.”

One survivor, Mark Atkinson, stood up in court and questioned why it took…