By Becky Devries
WLUK-Fox11
December 13, 2008
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local_allouez_SNAP_questions_Green_Bay_Catholic_Diocese_20081211_rev1
ALLOUEZ - Now that Bishop David Ricken has been in Green Bay for 100 days, members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) say that's enough time for him to respond to their request for dialogue.
Members hand-delivered their third request to speak with the bishop to the diocese's chancery office Thursday.
 |
"What is confusing to us is why hasn't he met with us," said SNAP Midwest director Peter Isley. "I think you can see from the letter, we feel we have something to bring to the table."
The diocese issued a statement saying it is proactive in dealing with abuse prevention efforts, but did not say why it has not met with SNAP.
SNAP has laid out a number of things it wants the bishop to do to deal with clergy abuse issues.
Among them, SNAP says Ricken should review Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morneau's handling of abuse allegations.
"Bishop Morneau who was involved in cases of cover up in the past, that's one of our concerns," Isley said. "What's happening with him? He's in the documents - Feeney documents, what's going on?"
Former priest John Patrick Feeney was convicted in 2003 for sexually assaulting two adolescent brothers 30 years ago.
Morneau issued a statement saying he was not involved in covering up criminal behavior by Feeney.
Part of Morneau's statement reads: "To accuse me of such a heinous act is heartbreaking. It unfairly damages my reputation and my credibility. As a bishop, as a pastor and as an uncle to several nieces and nephews, I would never want to see a child harmed. I am committed to providing a safe and secure environment not just for children, but for all people."
SNAP says Morneau was involved in covering up Feeney's behavior, and released a copy of a letter from 1989.
The letter is from a representative of the "Servants of the Paraclete" to then-Green Bay Bishop Adam Maida. According to its website, the "Servants of the paraclete" is a "religious congregation of men dedicated to ministry to priests and Brothers with personal difficulties."
Morneau and others are listed as receiving a copy of the letter.
The topic of the letter is then-Fr. Feeney. It discusses his progress or lack thereof in treatment for incidences in parishes in northeast Wisconsin.
In the last paragraph of the letter, the author, citing legal advice, tells the recipients to destroy or return enclosed reports.
FOX 11 contacted the diocese asking about the letter, and if those documents were returned or destroyed. The diocese said it suspected SNAP would be using the letter in some type of litigation, and the diocese does not typically comment on litigation.
The full statements and documents from both sides can be read below:
Statement from Diocese:
"The Diocese takes exception to SNAP's characterization that we have a "lingering abuse problem." In the last two years, we have received four allegations of clergy abuse of a minor, and the alleged incidents date between 33 to 58 years ago. Of all the allegations we have received over the years, the most recent alleged incident was from 17 years ago.
Abuse is always wrong, which is why we have been proactive in our prevention efforts. As Bishop Ricken outlined in his November 22, 2008, letter to all Catholics, the Diocese continues to take numerous efforts, including:
1. the barring from ministry of any clergy who have a credible allegation of abuse of a minor against them
2. the mandatory reporting of all credible allegations of abuse to local civil authorities
3. the mandatory background check and abuse prevention training of all staff and volunteers in our parishes, schools and diocesan offices."
Statement from Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morneau:
"I believe that all children need to be safe and protected from sexual abuse. I support the diocesan policy of reporting all credible allegations of sexual abuse to the authorities. SNAP's recent allegation that I was involved in the cover up of criminal behavior by John Feeney, one of our former priests, is false. To accuse me of such a heinous act is heartbreaking. It unfairly damages my reputation and my credibility. As a bishop, as a pastor and as an uncle to several nieces and nephews, I would never want to see a child harmed. I am committed to providing a safe and secure environment not just for children but for all people."
Click here to read a November letter from Bishop Ricken to parishioners, including a statement on the diocese's efforts to protect children from abuse (.pdf)
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.