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  Marquette Priest Accused of Coverup

TMJ 4
March 30, 2011

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/118951719.html

[with video]

Milwaukee - Marquette University is gearing up to host a conference on clergy abuse. But newly released court documents are leading abuse victims to question whether Father Robert Wild helped cover up for one of the nation’s most notorious priests.

Before Fr. Wild was president at Marquette University, he was the provincial leader for Chicago's Jesuits. One of the priests he supervised was notorious sex offender Father Donald Mcguire. Mcguire is now serving prison time for molesting boys. Accusations against him date back to the 1960's.

"Fr. Wild during his entire time as provincial until 1991 left Fr.McGuire in ministry where he then continued to sexually asault and abuse children under Fr. Wild’s watch,” said Peter Isely of the Survivors Network for Those Abused By Priests.

At least one of the reports came directly to Father Wild. In 1991, a Catholic brother from California told Wild he thought McGuire was having a sexual relationship with a boy.

According to newly released court documents, Wild wrote at the time, “This is the first I've heard about this form of behavior on the part of Don."

But Brother Ricardo Palacio told investigators that Wild did know of previous complaints.

In 1991, Wild sent a letter to McGuire, asking him not to travel with any boy or girl under the age of 18.

Doing so, he wrote, "is simply a careful matter of prudence." He then opened a confidential file on the accused priest.

Wild would not comment on the allegations. Isely and SNAP members delivered a letter to him. The want Wild to apologize publicly for not reporting McGuire to authorities.

"We want him to explain what he's done, what he did with Fr.McGuire,why it's taken so long for this to come out, apologize to the victims and families,” Isely said.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee does post the names of accused priests. But the religious orders, like the Jesuits do not. The Jesuits issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging that they did not do enough to protect children. But, a spokesman says, they have changed policies to prevent that from happening in the future.

 
 

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