By Mick Trevey
Today's TMJ
February 17, 2010
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/84580432.html
[with video]
LaCROSSE (WI) -- For the first time, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki is speaking out about allegations of priest abuse that took place under his watch in La Crosse.
Some say Listecki chose to support his priests over the safety of parishioners.
Archbishop Listecki is facing criticism from his time in La Crosse for taking the side of priests when questions of sexual abuse come up.
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One recent case involved Fr. Edmund Donkor-Baine. A woman accused him of sexually touching her.
Listecki investigated, but didn't find anything wrong.
Still, the district attorney later charged Fr. Donkor-Baine in court with sexual assault.
"What she had reported to us and what she told us, it was a 'he said, she said' situation, explained Listecki. "Someone said 'she said this' and he said 'no, that didn't happen.' I'm not a judge and a jury and I don't go forward."
Listecki explained he doesn't give priests any favoritism.
"If it's a credible person that comes in, we have to pursue it, we have to investigate it," said Archbishop Listecki. "We would give each side equal weight."
A study found that the La Crosse Archdiocese sided with priests much more often than the national average when there are issues.
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) say it's natural for a church leader to give priests extra credibility.
"The elevation priests are put into, they have a special, heroic class," said Peter Isley of SNAP.
"They have a bond with each other. They're celibate. It's almost like police officers magnified."
Listecki maintains he's fair to everyone, and hopes priests can be trusted.
"Our hope is that they understand that truthfulness is a part of their own spiritual life. That basically sin is sin. And if a person is engaged in sin, they compound it if they basically lie about it."
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