Some victims of sex abuse at the hands of religious clergy attended the Mass of Atonement at Lumen Christi Parish in Mequon on Tuesday. Some joined church leaders in prayer while others protested.
Those who protested outside were invited to participated in the Mass, but said they wanted no part of it.
About 100 people attended the Mass celebrated by Archbishop Jerome Listecki.
At one point during the service, Listecki laid down on the floor. It was meant as a symbolic gesture to ask forgiveness for the sins of the clergy involved in sexual abuse cases.
"What can help us to go forward is our reliance on faith and to understand that there is a God and that God can heal and God can forgive," Listecki said.
The archbishop feels there is a need to refocus on prayer in the aftermath of the scandal. But for some activists and victims gathered outside his words and gestures held little meaning.
"They cannot be trusted. It is dangerous to trust them at this point. They haven't earned it," said Peter Isley, of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
The survivors group has said the church hasn't done enough to help victims of clergy sex abuse. They say the archdiocese's current bankruptcy plan fails to identify many other offenders and doesn't provide hundreds of victims with compensation.
"In this proposed reorganization plan, nearly four-fifths of all survivors would receive absolutely no compensation," clergy abuse victim Monica Barrett said.
Listecki said not all the claims fall under the church's responsibility but he's open to dialogue about the issue. face to face.
The archbishop told 12 News he understands how horrible the abuse acts were and the impact upon the victims. However, he said the archdiocese had to follow certain rules in the process and kept only funds needed to cover operating expenses of the church.