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  Another Priest Accused, Put on Leave

By William Wineke
Wisconsin State Journal
December 31, 2002

Madison Catholic Diocese Bishop William Bullock said Monday he has placed another priest on administrative leave because of charges of sexual impropriety.

The Rev. Robert DeCock, a priest from the Schoenstatt Order who was working as an assistant pastor at St. Paul's University Catholic Center, was placed on leave last week. Bullock said he had received a complaint and that he had turned the information over to the Dane County district attorney's office and to the Schoenstatt Order.

Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said Monday the matter was investigated by the Madison Police Department last week and no charges will be filed.

Bullock released no details of the complaint. As a member of a religious order, DeCock reports to that order, not the bishop, but he was working in the diocese with Bullock's permission.

DeCock is the third priest in the diocese placed on administrative leave this year.

The Rev. Kenneth Klubertanz, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Lodi, was removed from his job in June after Bullock was informed of charges that the priest had abused a young man 27 years ago. In August, a second charge was lodged against Klubertanz.

On Dec. 18, Bullock announced he had removed the Rev. Peter Claver Arnoue, a member of the Owere, Nigeria, Catholic Diocese, from his job as administrator of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Hollandale, after receiving a complaint. That case was referred to Iowa County authorities.

And, in yet another allegation, the diocese said Monday it has received an allegation of sexual abuse against former diocesan priest Michael Trainer. Trainer resigned from the priesthood in 1991.

 
 

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