PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- -
Priests, nuns and canon lawyers who advocate for clergy sex abuse victims urged Pope Francis, on the eve of his U.S. visit, to investigate the child protection records of Cardinal Justin Rigali, the former archbishop of Philadelphia, and Cardinal Raymond Burke, who led dioceses in Wisconsin and Missouri.
The group, which calls itself the Catholic Whistleblowers, wants an inquiry of Rigali, who was Philadelphia archbishop from 2003 to 2011 and retired amid an uproar over grand jury allegations that he was keeping about three dozen suspected abusers in ministry. His successor, Archbishop Charles Chaput, has removed several priests from church work since he took over.
The advocates are also calling for an investigation of Burke, who led the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis before leaving for Rome to lead the Vatican's highest court. The advocates have accused him of insensitive treatment of victims and their families.
The Rev. James Connell, a canon lawyer and member of the group, said that in La Crosse, Burke used a very strict definition in canon law to evaluate abuse cases - equivalent to guilty beyond a reasonable doubt - instead of a lesser standard called for in the U.S. bishops' own policies, and therefore left abusers in ministry.
"I think the church would like people to think this is over, this is finished, we've handled it," said Sister Maureen Paul Turlish of Delaware, a member of the advocacy group, who spoke at the news conference Wednesday in Philadelphia. "It's not true. It's not over."
Rigali, who now resides in the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, declined to comment, a spokesman for the diocese said. Burke is now patron of the Order of the Knights of Malta, a global organization that helps the sick and vulnerable. Through a spokeswoman, he declined to comment.
Francis arrives in the U.S. on Tuesday in Washington, and will visit Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 for the World Meeting of Families, a Vatican conference.
The advocates want Francis to investigate the cardinals through a planned tribunal, announced in June, to hear cases of abuse of office by bishops over failures in handling sex abuse cases. But no developments have been announced to indicate the tribunal will be set up anytime soon - such as the publication of statutes outlining the panel's mandate or the appointment of staff.
Since the abuse crisis erupted in the U.S. in 2002, a few U.S. bishops have been allowed by the Vatican to step down amid scandals over sheltering guilty priests, but no bishop has been publicly disciplined for his failures.
"We're not going to wait for the Vatican," said Tom Doyle, a member of the advocacy group and a canon lawyer who was shunned by American bishops for his advocacy on behalf of victims. "We're going to get this information out there in the hope that someone over there realizes it might be a good idea to follow up their promise with some action."
While in the United States, Francis is widely expected to meet with abuse victims, as his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, did when he traveled to the country in 2008. Church officials have said any such meeting between Francis and victims would only be announced after it occurred.
Arthur Baselice, a retired Philadelphia police detective, said his son, also named Arthur, was abused by a priest and a religious brother, became addicted to drugs and killed himself. Baselice said the Vatican needed to find ways to hold church leaders accountable for sheltering predators.
"The easiest way is to tell the truth," Baselice said. "They say forgive. It's easy to say forgive when you haven't lost a child. I say forgiveness begins when justice is served."
Advocates for victims of clergy sex abuse are asking Pope Francis to investigate the child protection records of the former archbishop of Philadelphia and another cardinal.
The advocates said Wednesday they want the pope to look at Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was archbishop of Philadelphia from 2003 to 2011. Rigali retired amid an uproar over grand jury allegations that he was keeping about three dozen suspected abusers in ministry.
The advocates also want a review of Cardinal Raymond Burke, who led the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Critics say he used such a strict standard to evaluate abuse claims that he left dangerous priests in ministry.
Francis arrives in the U.S. next Tuesday and will visit Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27.
