WISCONSIN
Star Times
By Mike Tighe, Lee Newspapers
The Diocese of La Crosse is “not doing real well financially,” said Bishop William P. Callahan, who nonetheless sees a bright future as people respond to the church’s needs.
That future might include parish consolidations and different educational models, Callahan said in a rare, wide-ranging exclusive interview with the La Crosse Tribune.
A member of the Conventual Franciscan order who has presided over the 19-county diocese since August 2010, Callahan also acknowledged the economy’s effect on people’s ability to donate to the church.
“Our economy stinks,” he said. “Our people are suffering, so the expectation is not that we are going to be out there hitting them over the head saying give Callahan addressed the church’s problems with sexual abuse, his position against gay marriage and abortion, and the church’s recent battles with the federal government over mandates that religious institutions provide insurance coverage for their workers for contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion drugs.
Callahan became bishop shortly after the Rev. Patrick Umberger resigned as pastor at St. Patrick Parish in St. Onalaska after being charged with child pornography. Umberger, who was not accused of abusing children, died with the case pending.
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