BishopAccountability.org
	Milwaukee Will Soon Get New Archbishop By Carrie Antlfinger The Rhinelander Daily News January 2, 2010 http://www.rhinelanderdailynews.com/articles/2010/01/02/ap-state-wi/wi_milwaukee_archbishop.txt Archbishop-designate Jerome Listecki has been more outspoken on political issues than his predecessor Timothy Dolan at the Milwaukee archdiocese. Listecki once admonished House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her interpretation of Catholic teachings on the beginnings of life, and criticized the University of Notre Dame's decision earlier this year to honor Barack Obama. Listecki said he won't stop speaking out on controversial subjects after he's installed Monday as 11th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. "My response usually is when something is put out there that is either confusing or ambiguous for Catholics, it's my responsibility to try to clarify that," he said. The 60-year-old takes over as the leader of some 675,000 parishioners and 211 churches in 10 southeastern Wisconsin counties. Dolan was installed April 15 as archbishop of New York. Listecki is leaving the La Crosse diocese, with about 202,000 parishioners in 165 parishes in western Wisconsin, where he served since 2005. The Chicago native is also a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. In the past, he's also spoken out against the group Young Catholics for Choice, which was working with a Wisconsin family planning clinic to promote access to emergency contraceptives. In October, he also testified before a Wisconsin legislative committee, arguing against a bill that would make it easier for victims of clergy sex abuse to sue their perpetrators. The Rev. Joe Coerber, pastor of St. Mary Parish-Marytown and St. John the Baptist-Johnsburg, both in Fond du Lac County, said he supported Dolan's subtle approach but he will also support Listecki. "The church has to be outspoken especially when it comes to the sanctity of life," he said. "And I admire his courage and his forthrightness of telling these people that life is sacred from conception until to death." The Rev. Steven Avella, a history professor at Marquette University, wrote a history of the archdiocese in 2002, "In the Richness of the Earth." He said there is a division among American bishops on how to handle life issues in public policy, such as abortion. He said some will speak out more or take action like denying pro-choice politicians communion. Others feel the virtual ex-communication of Catholic politicians is counterproductive, he said. "Within a diocese, he's the king," he said. "He can do pretty much do what he wants and say what he wants." But Avella said he believes abortion is as evil as pre-emptive war, capital punishment, "as is any kind of deprivation of life and ... depriving people the basic necessities of life." He hopes Listecki speaks out on all those issues. "I want us to speak out carefully, consistently, forcefully on all the issues that deal with dignity of the human person and if people think that dilutes our opposition to abortion, so be it," he said. Listecki said he got involved in the Obama issue with Notre Dame because he wanted to support the local bishop, who wasn't consulted beforehand. As far as denying someone communion, he said it depends on the situation. "I see that as a last effort to try to reform or enter into a dialogue with someone," he said. Listecki also wants to look into other forms of communication, such as a radio or TV program, blogs, podcasts or social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. He said he had a radio show in Chicago and La Crosse. "I'm their chief pastor ... it's important for people to get to know me on whatever level they can," he said. The archdiocese launched a $105 million fundraising campaign several years ago and hopes to hit its target in the spring. But it also faces 14 lawsuits related to clergy sexual-abuse allegations, which could force it into bankruptcy. Through June 30, 2009, the archdiocese said it paid out $28 million to settle charges related to clergy sexual abuse. Listecki said he supports the way the archdiocese has handled the controversy so far. Soon after being installed, he said he plans to meet with lawyers, examine the lawsuits and decide the church's best response. Listecki said he knew he wanted to be a priest since he was 2 1/2 or 3 years old. He was standing with his family after Mass outside church and they asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. "There was a priest who was passing and I pointed to him and I said, 'That is what I wanted to be.' And of course they patted me on the head and said, 'Sure,' but it never varied. That was always what I wanted to be."
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