MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin
Action Alert: Important Milwaukee Archdiocese Bankruptcy Court Hearing Thursday January 24, 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Milwaukee Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue
In Federal Bankruptcy Court on Thursday January 24, Judge Susan V. Kelley will rule on four cases that could determine if the remaining 570 victim/survivors who have filed cases will be allowed to proceed. Last month, lawyers for the archdiocese sought to dismiss these cases. Kelley heard arguments but declined to issue a ruling and is likely to do so tomorrow. The archdiocese, by objecting to these four claims, is seeking, in principle, to dismiss nearly every one of the cases filed. (For details, see the press advisory from last month when the ruling was first expected.)
The archdiocese has also just filed another 157 case objections, this time based on the argument that they have no responsibility for religious order offenders, even though most of these individuals were officially assigned to the archdiocese to work in parishes and schools and could only work here with the direct consent and supervision of the archbishop. It’s not sure if Kelley will start hearing arguments on this issue tomorrow. There has not been sufficient time for victims’ attorneys and the Creditors Committee to submit their written response to the court. An eventual ruling for victim/survivors on this crucial issue, however, would be a major step in bringing accountability, transparency and public safety concerning scores of religious order child molesters who have harmed children while working for the archdiocese. (NB: Some of these claims objections also include lay employees and volunteers from the archdiocese who committed sex crimes against children.)
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