Sheboygan Priest Honored by Sex Abuse Survivors

By Annysa Johnson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
July 28, 2012

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/164157406.html#!page=1&pageSize=10&sort=newestfirst

A Sheboygan priest and former vice chancellor of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, who has become a vocal advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse, is being honored in Chicago on Sunday at a national gathering of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

Father James Connell who has criticized bishops and the church at large for their handling of the sex abuse crisis, will receive the Millstone Award for his courage in speaking on behalf of survivors.

"I'm very honored, but I don't feel as though I deserve an award," Connell said by telephone from the three-day event, which has drawn about 200 survivors from around the country. "The whole tone of this conference is about hope," he said, "and if accepting this helps that hope to grow, then I'm happy to do that/"

Over the last two years, Connell has worked with fellow priests in what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind effort to pastor victims and help parishes heal the wounds and divisions caused by the abuse scandal. He began speaking out on behalf of survivors in 2010 after an epiphany prompted, he sayas, by SNAP's criticism of his handling of an abuse case while serving as vice chancellor.