Milwaukee Archdiocese to Release Sex Abuse Files

WISC
April 4, 2013

http://www.wiscnews.com/news/state-and-regional/article_3c566e69-86d2-5d5b-85ac-56f3ebe2048c.html

The Milwaukee Archdiocese says documents related to ongoing sexual abuse lawsuits will be released by July 1.

The archdiocese said Wednesday it will post about 3,000 pages of documents on its website. It says it's not posting them immediately because it wants to ensure victims' names are not included.

Archdiocese spokesman Jerry Topczewski (top-CHES'-kee) says one goal in releasing the documents is to help the hundreds of sexual abuse survivors heal.

The documents contain depositions from top archdiocese officials and content from priest personnel files. Victims' advocates have been seeking the documents' release for several years.

In an email to church officials, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki says he hopes the documents' release will bring comfort to the abuse survivors.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee says that it will release about 3,000 pages of documents related to sexual abuse lawsuits that have been filed against it.

It says the documents include depositions given by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese, former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and retired Bishop Richard Sklba.

Victims' advocates have accused church leaders of moving abusive priests around and covering up their crimes for decades.

The archdiocese had been fighting the release of the documents, and a hearing on the matter was scheduled for Thursday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee.

The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2011 to deal with about 500 sex abuse claims.

Lawyers representing those people had been seeking the documents' public release.