WISCONSIN
Green Bay Press-Gazette
By Andy Nelesen
anelesen@greenbaypressgazette.com
Moments after a Brown County judge sentenced the Rev. James Stein to 10 years probation and a year in jail for molesting her then-14-year-old son, Alice Hodek asked that Bishop David Zubik provide information about priests accused of sexual misconduct.
However, her demand differed from a request made after the preliminary hearing of another priest Dec. 2. Rather than release the names to the public, Hodek asked that Zubik release the clergy names to Catholic school officials and lay church leaders.
“Most of these individuals are now mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse under state law,” Hodek said. “They have a right to this information and will act responsibly with it.”
In response to the earlier call for names, Zubik issued a written statement defending his decision.
“Any member of the clergy who has a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against him has been permanently removed from ministry,” Zubik wrote. “It’s equally important to protect the rights of those who are falsely accused or those who have died and are not able to come to their own defense.
Posted by kshaw at December 17, 2004 05:23 AM