DAVENPORT (IA)
Quad-City Times
By Barb Ickes
The three men who have been representing victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic Diocese of Davenport have resigned.
The men, who are among 37 claimants in a $9 million settlement reached with the diocese during October, said they resigned in frustration over the refusal by the diocese to compromise on their recommendations for protecting children from future abuse.
One of the victims’ representatives, Greg Schildgen of Texas, said the trio has “no incentive” to continue meeting with Bishop William Franklin and the Diocesan Review Board. The meetings are among the non-monetary terms of a nearly year-old settlement between some victims and the diocese.
The three men were selected to attend the meetings on behalf of the victims.
The trio said they are disappointed over a response from the diocese to their list of 11 recommendations geared toward protecting children. Schildgen said the diocese not only refused to implement the actions but also refused to even discuss the possibility of a compromise on ideas such as giving new victims a timeline for responding to allegations.