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	Milwaukee's 11th Archbishop Installed WISN January 5, 2010 http://www.wisn.com/news/22123818/detail.html Timothy Dolan Thinks Jerome Listecki Will Be Great Leader MILWAUKEE -- The installation of Milwaukee's 11th archbishop is complete. Jerome Listecki was installed Monday afternoon during a ceremony at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Milwaukee. The 60-year-old Listecki stressed to parishioners Monday in his homily the need to protect marriage and family life, and sacrifice for the truth. The archdiocese has some 675,000 parishioners and 211 churches in 10 southeastern Wisconsin counties. Listecki left 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. Cardinals Edward Egan of New York, Francis George of Chicago, and Adam Maida and Edmund Szoka of Detroit were among the U.S. church leaders in attendance. Former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan was among those in attendance on Monday. Dolan is now the leader of New York's Catholic Church. Before leaving Milwaukee, Dolan served as our area's archbishop for seven years. He said he believes Milwaukee's new archbishop will be a great leader "When I was archbishop of Milwaukee, he became bishop of La Crosse, so I was his... So I got to know him better and had the honor of installing him. I was elated. He's a great combination. He'll have no trouble making it to the fish fries, just like I did," Dolan said. Listecki took some questions from the press after his installation. The questions ranged from the sex abuse allegations plaguing the archdiocese to what his fears and hopes about the office are. After five years in the smaller community of La Crosse, he said he realizes the immense responsibilities that come with this appointment. "My own inadequacy to be able to rise to the occasion," Listecki said. Fears aside, he said the priorities of the position are similar. "If you took a poll, there would be three things that they would say are immediately on a bishop's watch -- schools, personnel and finances," Listecki said. He talked about his intentions to grow Catholic schools and continue what's been a successful financial campaign started by Dolan. He also talked about getting Catholics back who've grown away from the church by promoting the positive. Looming Issues Listecki faces some big issues as head of the Milwaukee archdiocese. One concern comes from victims of clergy abuse. However, Peter Isely, director of the Midwest chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priest, said that when it comes to the Milwaukee Archdiocese concerning clergy sex crimes and cover up, nothing has changed. "I work with these people everyday, I'm a victim myself, it's sad, it's a sad day for those families to see these men continue to be held in places of honor and esteem in our church," Isely said. Isely said his group is repeatedly trying to meet with the new Archbishop but no success yet. He said they'll keep trying. "There is more horrible evidence that's being uncovered about the crimes here and it has to be met head on, he has to meet this head on, and he's going to have to talk to the people that have been harmed the most in this community and get this job done," Isely said. During the press conference after his installation, Listecki fielded some questions about the controversy. "You talk about the sexual abuse situation tragic, you know we can't get away from it, that's a tragedy," Listecki said. The archbishop made it clear he doesn't intend to hide anything. He said his door is open to victims of priest abuse. "There's no bishop in the United States (who) would not reach out to victims that's part of the pastoral concern to try to help the healing," Listecki said. Listecki said he has a lot to learn about the inner workings of the archdiocese and the community itself. He plans to take the next several months getting familiar with it all.
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