MILWAUKEE (WI)
SNAP Wisconsin
Statement by Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director (Milwaukee)
CONTACT 414.429.7259
After 16 months of spending in excess of 4 million dollars to throw out nearly 90 percent of the 570 victims who filed claims in federal bankruptcy court alleging rape, sexual assault or abuse by Milwaukee clergy, Judge Susan V. Kelley today has finally ordered the archdiocese into mediation. In appointing Judge Randall J. Newsome to conduct mediation, Kelley emphasized that she wants to see “compassion” used when dealing with the issues of Wisconsin law, such as the old statute of limitations on sex crimes, which have prevented many victims from receiving justice.
Judge Newsome will oversee the mediation discussions which are expected to begin on July 20th. At that time a stay of at least 60 days will be placed on all court proceedings to give the parties time to focus on reaching a settlement.
Indeed, no other diocese or religious order that has filed for bankruptcy in the US has contested legitimate victim claims, except the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, an unnecessary, unjust and expensive delay. Instead, current Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki has repeatedly refused to voluntarily mediate, so today, sadly, it has taken a court order for him to do it.
This kind of legal attack on victims, perhaps the most aggressive in the country, was part of the bankruptcy plan designed by former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan, now Cardinal of New York. Dolan’s movement of tens of millions of dollars into off-the-books archdiocesan trusts was the original subject of today’s hearing but was changed by Kelley so that she could order the mediation.
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