Archdiocese Settles More Clergy Sex Abuse Cases

By Pat Kinney
Globe Gazette
August 29, 2013

http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/archdiocese-settles-more-clergy-sex-abuse-cases/article_f1f3d204-106c-11e3-825c-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=true

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque has paid $5.2 million to 26 victims of clergy sex abuse — the fourth such settlement in nine years and the first since 2008.

The out-of-court settlement was announced Wednesday by Waterloo attorney Chad Swanson of the Dutton law firm and confirmed by the archdiocese.

It involves 10 priests in incidents alleged to have occurred from the late 1940s through the 1970s, including three who served in North Iowa.

None of the accused clergy currently work as priests, and most are dead. Archdiocesan officials have said the number of new claims has tapered off significantly in recent years.

Swanson worked through the archdiocese over several years to settle the claims without having to file lawsuits for 22 males and four females — unlike previous settlements which did involve litigation.

“We’ve been working on this project for nearly 10 years, and we’ve been able to foster a lot of healing for a lot of folks,” Swanson said. “I think it’s been a long time coming, particularly with this latest group.”

The archdiocese released a statement saying, “Archbishop Michael Jackels and Archbishop Emeritus Jerome Hanus apologize to the victims and their families. It is their hope that this settlement will be supportive of them. ...

“Priests who abused are a disgrace to the vocation and a scandal to the faithful. The vast majority of priests are good and holy servants of God and God’s people.”

Swanson declined to discuss specific claims out of respect for the confidentiality of the victims. The money was divided “in accordance with the nature and the extent of the abuse each suffered and their resulting injuries,” he said.

Survivors also received a personal letter of apology from Hanus prior to his retirement earlier this year and were offered an opportunity to meet with him privately. Each survivor and spouse also was allowed up to 12 counseling sessions at archdiocesan expense.

In all, the archdiocese has now paid out more than $17.5 million on 83 claims of clergy sex abuse involving clients represented by the Dutton law firm, which has handled the bulk of claims within the Dubuque archdiocese, which covers the northeastern quadrant of Iowa including North Iowa.

The settlements “certainly had a serious effect on archdiocesan finances, but with the extended time frame it was manageable,” said Sister Carol Hoverman, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese.

Many of the incidents involved previously accused priests. One priest not previously named with North Iowa ties is the Rev. Louis W. Wunder. The current settlement includes two claims against Wunder in incidents that allegedly occurred in the 1960s involving boys. Wunder served in Clear Lake and Dubuque prior to going to Waterloo in 1969.

Wunder also served at parishes in New Hampton and Garwin. He died in an automobile accident in 1990.

The settlement also includes additional claims against the following previously accused priests with North Iowa ties:

One additional claim was settled against William T. Schwartz, who was pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell, St. John Catholic Church in Cartersville and St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Swaledale from 1982 to 1989. He then served as pastor at St. John in Clarion until 1992.

He also served at St. Joseph’s Church in Waterloo from 1963-67, Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville in 1967-78 and Columbus from 1974-80. He was named in previously settled suits involving incidents with male minors at St. Joseph’s parish school and Columbus. He retired in 1993 and was defrocked by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

Ten additional claims were settled against Robert J. Reiss, ordained in 1955, and who served in Stacyville Visitation Church in the 1970s and 1980s.

Reiss also served at St. Nicholas Church in Evansdale from 1967-71. He was defrocked by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and died in Mexico in 2005. The claims against him involved incidents with male minors.

Pat Kinney is a reporter for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, another Lee Enterprises newspaper.