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	Former DA Backs Church on Abuse Bill By Daniel Bice Milwaukee Journal Sentinel February 2, 2008 http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713968 [With links to the Becker documents and background information] A bipartisan bill aimed at helping victims of childhood sexual abuse has the backing of almost the entire legal community - state justice officials, county prosecutors, the Milwaukee cops union and District Attorney John Chisholm. But there is one huge exception: Chisholm's predecessor, former Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann. Just over a week ago, McCann took the unusual step of going to Madison to speak out against the bill during a five-hour public hearing on the proposal. Joining McCann in opposing the proposal was the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. News of his testimony comes on the heels of last week's disclosure that back in 1983, the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese privately sought McCann's counsel on what to do with a pedophile priest. The documents say he advised church officials to keep the priest out of the ministry for a few years before giving him another chance. He says he didn't know the priest was accused of any crimes. So just how cozy is the former prosecutor with the archdiocese? Too cozy, said an advocate for victims of clergy sexual abuse. "This is first time in the United States - that I know of - that a law enforcement official, whether retired or not, went before an elected committee looking at abuse bills and testified against the victims," said Peter Isely, Midwest director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "He basically sucker-punched us." But McCann is not backing down on the bill, which hasn't been voted on by either house. He said Friday that a key provision is flawed and should be tossed. What's more, McCann said, the archdiocese didn't ask him to do its bidding. "I decided on my own to go," he said of his Jan. 24 testimony before the Assembly Children and Family Law Committee. "I made it very clear to the committee that I wasn't appearing on behalf of anybody." The bill has two sections. First, it eliminates the statute of limitations for civil suits by future victims of sexual abuse. Now, a victim must file a suit before turning 35 years old. The second part of the measure would give past victims a window of three years to file suits in cases that would otherwise be too old. Victims of abuse have been pushing for such legislation for years. McCann said he doesn't have a position on the section of the bill that would affect future victims. He said he did warn the panel that it can't simply bring back the statute of limitations if it decides in a few years that it made a mistake by eliminating it. As for the three-year grace period, he said he believes this would be unconstitutional. It could also have a practical affect by wiping out small social service agencies without much money. Isely disputed the suggestion that the grace period would be unconstitutional, noting that two other states have passed similar provisions, both of which were upheld. The funny thing is, this subject wasn't a major part of McCann's testimony, according to Isely, who spoke immediately after him at the hearing. A committee clerk said 18 people spoke in favor of the bill and six against. Rather, Isely said, McCann was more interested in talking about how the legislation would affect those accused of abuse. Isely said McCann has not met with abuse victims to discuss the issues. "It was stunning to see him there," Isely said. So what motivated the retired district attorney to spend much of a day in Madison letting lawmakers know how he felt about this bill? Of course, McCann has strong ties to the Catholic church. Just recall his key role in the case in which then-Archbishop Rembert Weakland agreed to pay $450,000 in church funds to a man accusing him of sexual assault. But McCann said Friday that his ties to the church didn't drive him to testify against the bill. He said he simply thought legislators could benefit from his expertise. "I'm knowledgeable in the field," he said. "I'm aware of these cases." And with each passing day, the public becomes more and more aware of these cases, too. To be continued The whole thing gets curiouser and curiouser. A special-interest group, the Thomas Paine Democracy Network, is putting up billboards around town attacking Republican County Executive Scott Walker. Thomas Paine lists Republican hatchet man Todd Rongstad as its registered agent and his house as its office. The group hasn't disclosed its funding source. But one person listed as a board member denies any ties to the nonprofit. Ray Sykes Jr., one of three board members, declined an interview request. But Stephanie Coleman, a site manager at the senior center where Sykes lives, said he is unfamiliar with the group. Coleman had just spoken to Sykes about the subject before talking to No Quarter. "He doesn't even know what it is," she said after talking with him. Told that the group's state records list him by name and address, including apartment number, Coleman said that didn't matter: "It's not him." Here's guessing there's still more to this story. Daniel Bice can be contacted by phone at (414) 223-5468 or by e-mail at dbice@journalsentinel.com.
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