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	Clergy Abuse Survivors Want to See Policy Changes Happen at the Diocese of LA Crosse WEAU August 5, 2010 http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/100082489.html Peter Isely is the Midwest Director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. He says the organization is concerned that the Diocese of La Crosse hasn’t been doing enough to investigate clergy abuse cases, especially those within the last six months. "If you’re a priest and you’ve been reported to commit acts of sexual misconduct or sexual criminal acts, apparently all you need to do is tell Father Gilles or the bishop, like Bishop Listecki: ‘I didn’t do it.’ That’s it,” Isely said. Isely is criticizing the diocese’s policy that he says states if someone is the victim of clergy abuse they should report it to the diocese. The diocese policy also encourages individuals to report it to police. We contacted the diocese attorney for comment today, but did not get a call back. Isely says SNAP leaders want three things changed when the appointed bishop starts in La Crosse. “Here are the three things in those first 100 days: independent law enforcement and professional review and investigation of all abuse reports. Stemming back from when they first started getting them," he said. Isely says SNAP organizers also want the diocese to release Father Patrick Umberger’s police report and its own investigative report. Father Umberger is the former pastor at Saint Patrick’s in Onalaska who is facing child pornography charges. “All the information that led you to conclude that there’s nothing left here to investigate and no reason to give it to our review board to investigate," Isely said. In a recent statement, the diocese says it did not know about a Lake Delton water park incident involving Father Umberger until seven weeks after Lake Delton Police mailed it a copy of the report in September of last year. The diocese states that the report it received “did not allege any interaction or suspicious activity with children in or outside the restroom." Isely says the third thing SNAP would like to see changed is a complete overhaul of the diocese review board personnel policies and procedures. When he took a letter with the proposed changes to the diocese today, a groundskeeper accepted the letter on behalf of the diocese. “My concern is what that says to victims and survivors in the community and it certainly is not saying you’re welcome, the church welcomes you," Isely said. Appointed Bishop Callahan will be installed on August 11. The diocese says it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation into Father Umberger.
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