BishopAccountability.org
	Diocese of Green Bay Priest Suspended from Ministry for " Credible Report" of Child Sex Abuse By Peter Isely MN SNAP October 31, 2010 http://mnsnap.wordpress.com/snapnetwork-org-wisconsin/ The suspension this weekend of Fr. Paul Radetski from ministry by the diocese of Green Bay proves what victims, child protection advocates, law enforcement and even US senate candidates have been continually insisting upon: nothing is preventing any religious organization from releasing the names and information of clergy who have been credibly found by the diocese to have sexually abused children. (For story on Radetski's suspension: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101031/APC0101/10310597/Menasha-priest-suspended-after-child-abuse-allegation.) Radetski is still under investigation. He is denying the abuse, which is likely why the Green Bay diocese, in light of the evidence they must have received, was moved to act first. Often, in these cases, if the priests cooperates with the bishop, a deal is cut, and he is quietly put into retirement with no on the wiser for it. In 2004, a nationwide study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice found that the Green Bay diocese had received such credible reports against 51 clergy for assaulting children. But the Green Bay bishop David Ricken refuses to release their names and case histories. With victims now coming forward in greater numbers in recent years this figure is likely to be higher. Every single credentialed and licensed occupation working with children and families in the state of Wisconsin, such as teachers, psychologists, and social workers, have transparent policies, procedures and practices for investigating complaints against its professional members. If a licensing board finds that even one act of sexual assault has occurred by one of its credential holders, that member's license to practice is permanently revoked, their name is put on a registry, and the details of their misconduct made public and easily accessible. All the bishop of Green Bay needs to do is to go to the website, say, of the Wisconsin Board of Regulation and Licensing, to find out how a credentialed occupation properly regulates itself. Unless, of course, Ricken believes that priests and clergy should be treated differently from other professionals who harm children. No one is asking the diocese of Green Bay to do something unique, special, or out of the ordinary when it comes to child safety and public accountability. Now that we have the name of one Green Bay priest with a credible report of abusing a child, how about the other 51? Or, as Aristotle famously warned: "One swallow does not a summer make."
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