By Vince Vitrano with Jay Sorgi
WTMJ
December 1, 2009
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/78213582.html
 |
The transition has already begun for the man who will be Milwaukee's next Archbishop.
Current La Crosse Bishop and Milwaukee Archbishop-Designate Jerome Listecki is already busy getting ready for his new job.
When he first came to Milwaukee following the announcement of his new post, he sought patience and forgiveness, admitting he will make mistakes.
"When you assume a position of leadership, you look at what leadership demands and how many aspects of diversity are a part of it, and you know you're going to make mistakes," said Listecki in a one-on-one interview with TODAY'S TMJ4 HD's Vince Vitrano.
Still, make no mistake that Bishop Listecki is excited to add the prefix "Arch" to his job title.
It was an about face by the Catholic Church when Pope John Paul II replaced more liberal Archbishop Rembert Weakland with the friendly, lovable but strict Archbishop Timothy Dolan.
Listecki is said to be cut from the same cloth, a more conservative, a "rules-are-rules" kind of guy.
"There's an aspect of standing with the Church," explained Listecki. "I used the term 'thinking with the mind and the heart' of the Church."
He likens his style and teaching to that of a strict parent who loves, very much, his children.
"That's the motivation. If you want to call that law and order...then I'm a law and order bishop."
Handling Clergy Sex Abuse Cases
One of the major issued still facing the Catholic Church, both in Milwaukee and across America, is that of clergy sex abuse.
Cases pile up in Milwaukee that have brought about concerns of the Milwaukee Archdiocese becoming bankrupt.
Former Archbishop Timothy Dolan left things better than they were when he arrived in Milwaukee in 2002, but by no means is the issue finished.
"There's always need for healing," said Bishop Listecki.
That's specifically for abuse victims, and in general, for all church members hurt by the scandal.
"It's devastating. Just a single case is devastating. In that respect, there's always going to be a need for healing. At the same time, talking about my view as an outsider, it has taken vast strides to try to bring people together, to try to mediate the situation."
Bishop Listecki promises that under his direction, the Archdiocese will continue to make strides, but it will also press on, not looking past the abuse, but admittedly trying to look forward.
"If we get frozen there, then we're not doing the mission of the Church. We're not doing the mandate of the Gospel, not being a voice for the world in terms of Catholicism and Christian presence."
SNAP, the Survivor Network of Those Abused by Priests, expressed immediate reservations about the Bishop's promotion.
SNAP claims that as La Crosse's Bishop, Listecki cleared far too many priests in disputed cases of abuse.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.