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	Exclusive: People React to Weakland Book By Mick Trevey Today's TMJ4 May 15, 2009 http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45153702.html [with video] MILWAUKEE - People are speaking out about former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland's new book. TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Mick Trevey obtained an exclusive publisher's preview copy of the manuscript. In the book, Weakland writes about growing up in Pennsylvania and serving in Milwaukee for 25 years as archbishop. He also talks frankly about the priest sex scandal and his own sexuality. "It's a very painful thing," said priest sexual abuse victim John Pilmaier about the book. Weakland admits that priests were moved from parish to parish because of sex abuse cases. "Such a move would give the priest a chance to start over, and before 1985 this was common practice," Weakland writes. He also writes that priests were given more attention than their victims were. "In handling these cases, I had accepted naively the common view that it was not necessary to worry about the effects on the youngsters: either they would not remember it or would 'grow out of it'," Weakland wrote. Abuse victim Pilmaier says that shows the Archdiocese disregarded the victims' futures saying, "I've told people it's a life sentence. It's not something you can just get over or grow out of." Weakland also writes that he did not see the sexual abuse as illegal. "We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature," Weakland says in the book. "It's like it hasn't happened yet for him. It hasn't occurred. It hasn't reached him," said Peter Isely of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. The book also has the attention of trial lawyers who believe the text could be used against the Archdiocese in lawsuits filed by abuse victims. Attorney Ted Warshafsky says, "They're admissions that somebody who was in charge aided and abetted and continued a practice that was illegal." Attorney Robert Habush said, "That's an admission of fraud." As to Weakland's belief that abuse victims would "grow out of it," attorney Will Techmeier said he would make sure that was brought up in a trial. "I would want the jury to know about that," he said. Lawyers for the Archdiocese would not comment on the legal ramifications of Weakland's book because of pending litigation. TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Mick Trevey spoke with former Archbishop Weakland Friday afternoon. He declined to do an interview saying he wanted to let some of the attention "die down" first.
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