DAVENPORT (IA)
Des Moines Register
Three men who represented victims of sexual abuse in talks with the Catholic Diocese of Davenport say church officials have been unresponsive to their concerns.
The men, who are among 37 claimants in a $9 million court settlement reached last fall, said diocese officials refuse to act on recommendations made to protect children.
Greg Schildgen said the group has no incentive to continue meetings with Bishop William Franklin and the Diocesan Review Board. The meetings are among the non-monetary terms of the settlement.
Schildgen said the diocese not only ignored the 11 recommendations, but also refused to discuss other compromises.
"We decided it's a waste of our time to keep meeting," he said.
The Rev. Robert Gruss, chancellor for the diocese, said that church officials regret the men's decision and that the recommendations were either "outside the framework" or "not within the scope" of diocesan policies.