Rev. Franklyn William Becker—Assignment
Record
Includes detailed assignment record, sources,
summary of assignments, documents,
and notes.
Ordained: 5/30/64
|
| Start | Stop | Parish | Town | State | Position | Notes |
7/1/64 Archbishop was William E. Cousins (1958-77) |
9/9/68 | Holy Assumption | West Allis | WI | 4/4, curate. Priests were Revs. Philip J. Rose, James F. Koneazny, Carroll C. Straub, and Becker. In 1965, Rev. Alphonse P. Rumbac replaced Koneazny. In 1977, Rev. Terrence C. Tebo replaced Straub. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese. Parish school had 690 pupils in 1964-65. |
| 9/9/68 | 2/15/72 | St. John de Nepomuc (Bohemian) | Milwaukee | WI | 3/3, 2/3, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Joseph J. Wamser, Joseph H. Coerber, and Becker. In 1971, Rev. Wendel J. Badem replaced Wamser, Coerber left, and Rev. Francis Wirz arrived in residence. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese. Parish school had 318 pupils in 1968-69. |
| 2/15/72 | 6/18/74 | Holy Family | Whitefish Bay | WI | 2/2, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Harold J. Ide and Becker. In 1973, Rev. Robert J. McCormick replaced Ide. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese. Parish school had 255 pupils in 1972-73. |
| 6/18/74 | 1/16/75 | St. William's | Waukesha | WI | 2/2, associate pastor. Priests were Rev. Donald F. Quartana and Becker. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese. Parish school had 254 pupils in 1974-75. |
1/16/75 Bishop was Joseph H. Hodges (1962-85) |
8/1/76 | Marshall University | Huntington | WV | Campus minister. | In the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, but Becker was still indexed as a Milwaukee priest. In the 1976 Directory, Becker is indexed as on other asssignment and listed at Marshall Universtity's chapel address. The universtity is not named and Becker's title is not given. |
8/1/76 Archbishop was Cardinal John J. Carberry (1968-79) |
10/3/76 | St. Louis University | St. Louis | MO | Campus minister. | In the St. Louis archdicoese, but Becker was still incardinated in Milwaukee. |
| 10/3/76 | 6/24/77 | Awaiting assignment | ||||
6/24/77 Bishop of San Diego was Leo T. Maher (1969-90) Archbishop of Milwaukee was Rembert G. Weakland (1977-2002) |
3/79 | St. Brigid's | San Diego | CA | 3/3. Priests were Revs. Lloyd V. Bourgeois, Ramon R. Marrufo, and Becker. In 1978, Rev. Richard J. Cefalu replaced Marrufo. | In the San Diego diocese, but Becker was listed as a Milwaukee priest. No parish school. |
3/79
|
8/1/79 | Awaiting assignment | ||||
8/1/79
|
7/1/80 | St. Margaret Mary's | Milwaukee | WI | 2/4, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. Raymond E. Vint, Becker, Richard E. Mirsberger, and Thomas F. Wittliff. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese Parish school had 456 pupils. |
| 7/1/80 | 8/12/80 | St. Joseph's | Lyons | WI | 1/1, administrator. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese Parish school had 47 pupils in 1979-80. |
| 7/1/80 | 8/12/80 | St. Kilian's | Lyons | WI | 1/1, administrator. | Mission attended from St. Joseph's in Lyons. |
| 8/12/80 | 12/9/80 | St. Eugene's | Fox Point | WI | Associate pastor. Rev. William H. Mackin was pastor until 10/80, when he became emeritus and Msgr. William N. Schuit became pastor. It is not clear whether Becker overlapped with Revs. Richard J. Cerpich or Michael G. Barrett, who are listed as associates in the 1980 and 1981 Directories respectively. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese Parish school had 302 pupils in 1980-81. |
| 12/9/80 | 1/25/83 | St. John's | South Milwaukee | WI | 2/2, 2/3, associate pastor. Priests were Revs. William M. Heffron and Becker. In 1981, Rev. Victor L. Swaska arrived in residence. | In the Milwaukee archdiocese Parish school had 136 pupils in 1981-82. |
| 1/25/83 | 9/1/83 | Sick Leave | ||||
| 9/1/83 | 1/1/84 | St. Joseph Hospital | Milwaukee | WI | Clinical pastoral education. | |
| 1/1/84 | 11/6/84 | Awaiting Assignment | ||||
| 11/6/84 | 10/1/90 | West Allis Memorial Hospital | West Allis | WI | Chaplain. | |
| 10/1/90 | 7/1/93 | Awaiting Assignment | ||||
| 7/1/93 | 4/2002 | Unassigned with Restricted Ministry | ||||
| 4/2002 | Restricted from All Public Ministry | |||||
| 5/10/03 | Becker is arrested | |||||
| 5/27/03 | Dolan requests Becker's laicization | See Dolan letter to Ratzinger about scandal. | ||||
| 12/04 | Becker notified that he has been laicized | |||||
Sources
- Official Catholic Directory (New York: Kenedy & Sons, 1965-2006)
- Milwaukee
archdiocesan assignment record
-
The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, by Peter Isely
and Jim Smith, February 10, 2004
- Appeals
Court Upholds Dismissal of Suits against Archdiocese, by Ryan J. Foley,
Associated Press, August 29, 2006
- Dismissal
of Abuse Lawsuits Upheld: Accusers in Wisconsin Cannot Sue Archdiocese; Those
in California Can, by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, August 30, 2006
- $17
Million Settles 10 Abuse Cases: Archdiocese Will Sell Cousins Center; Insurance
to Pay Half, by Tom Heinen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 1, 2006
- Money
Given to Clergyman Accused of Sexual Abuse Questioned, TheMilwaukeeChannel.com,
September 7, 2006
- Archdiocese
Avoids Bankruptcy with Sex-Abuse Settlement, by Brian T. Olszewski, Catholic
Online, September 7, 2006
- Former
Milwaukee Area Priest Among Those Named, by Allison Hoffman, Chippewa Herald,
March 30, 2007
- Priests
of Dioceses Outside San Diego/San Bernardino Against Whom There Are Credible
Allegations, Diocese of San Diego, 3/30/07
- Archdiocese
Asks State High Court to Dismiss Assault Suits, by Pat Schneider, Capital
Times, April 25, 2007
- Archdiocese
Funds Find Way Back Home, by Jim Stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May
24, 2007
- Priests'
Privacy Rights Cannot Override Protection of Children, by John Manly, Los
Angeles Daily Journal, July 6, 2007
- Court:
Abuse Victims Can Sue Wis. Church Officials for Fraud, by Ryan J. Foley,
Pioneer Press, July 11, 2007
- Clergy
Abuse Victims Gain in Court Ruling, Journal Times, July 13, 2007
- - Documents
Detail Church Coverup: Newly Released Records from a California Lawsuit Settlement
Show the Extent of the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese's Efforts to Conceal Priest's
Sex Abuse, by Marie Rhode and Mary Zahn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January
31, 2008
- Becker
Case: Franklyn Becker's Service As a Priest, Highlighting Important Abuse and
Coverup-Related Events, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 1, 2008
- Archdiocese
of Milwaukee Records Regarding Father Franklyn Becker, JS Online, January
31, 2008
- Summary
of Franklyn Becker Documents, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, February 1, 2008
- Archbishop
Dolan's Letter to the Catholic Community, Archdiocese of Milwaukee, February
1, 2008
- Clergy
Abuse Victim Donates Settlement Money, WISN, February 21, 2008
- Deposition
of Archbishop Rembert Weakland, June 5-6, 2008 [with links to document exhibits]
- Archbishop
Timothy Dolan—Clergy Abuse Fact Sheet, by Peter Isely, Survivors Network
of those Abused by Priests, February 18, 2009 [with links to articles]
1976 St.
Louis MO (chaplain)
1976-1977 Awaiting assignment
1977-1979 St. Brigid's, San Diego CA (associate pastor)
1979-1980 St. Margaret Mary's, Milwaukee WI (associate pastor)
1980 St. Joseph's,
Lyons WI (administrator)
1980 St. Eugene's,
Fox Point WI (associate pastor)
1980-1983 St. John's, South Milwaukee WI (associate pastor)
1983 Sick
leave
1983-1984 St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee WI (clinical pastoral education)
1984 Awaiting
assignment
1984-1990 West Allis Memorial Hospital, West Allis WI (chaplain)
1990-1993 Awaiting assignment
1993-2002 Unassigned with restricted ministry
2002 Resricted
from all public ministry
The following links offer various ways to view the documents relating to Becker's
career and the allegations against him. Some of these documents have been published
by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and posted by attorney Jeff Anderson on his
website. BishopAccountability.org has obtained from Anderson the full Becker
file as obtained in discovery.
Documents Relating to Becker's Laicization and Archdiocesan Financial Assistance:
- Letter from Archbishop Dolan to Cardinal Ratzinger, promising assistance to Becker from a "special fund" (5/27/03)
- See also a group of letters between Dolan and the Vatican regarding Becker's laicization.
- Status Report by Deacon Zimprich on Meeting with Becker, discussing laicization and Becker's recent $10K "settlement" with the Milwaukee archdiocese (2/2/05)
- Status Report by Deacon Zimprich after Phone Call with Becker, discussing the $10K payment to Becker, Dolan's refusal to pay for Becker's health insurance from fear of liability, and Becker's threat to tell "all he knows" (2/8/05)
- Documents Detail Church Coverup: Newly Released Records from a California Lawsuit Settlement Show the Extent of the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese's Efforts to Conceal Priest's Sex Abuse, by Marie Rhode and Mary Zahn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 31, 2008 [with images of documents and links to them]
- Becker Case: Franklyn Becker's Service As a Priest, Highlighting Important Abuse and Coverup-Related Events, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 1, 2008 [with links to documents]
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee Records Regarding Father Franklyn Becker, JS Online, January 31, 2008 [with links to documents]
- Dolan-Cardinal Ratzinger Letters, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011
- Archdiocese Vicar Log, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011
- Background Becker Documents 1970-1997, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011
- Background Becker Documents 2001-2005, posted by Jeff Anderson & Associates, March 1, 2011
- Complete Becker File: Part 1 of 8, posted by BishopAccountability.org, March 2, 2011
- Complete Becker File: Part 2 of 8, posted by BishopAccountability.org, March 2, 2011
Priests in a Parish: We use the following
convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means
that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually
the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand
3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample
page from the Directory.
Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report
the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the
Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest
listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment
for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes
accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are
rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also
sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment
record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records
are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post.
Please email us
with new information and corrections.
This assignment record presents Becker's career history as it is represented
in the Official Catholic Directory. We make no representation regarding
the truth of the allegations against Becker. We remind our readers that in the
U.S. judicial system, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
A Note on Nomenclature: We use the term "assignment record,"
instead of the more common "service record," because "service"
is not an appropriate word for the activities of an abusive priest. Dioceses
are often less than forthcoming about the activities of retired priests, but
when we can determine those activities, we list them in these assignment records,
particularly if they involve ministry. Retired priests remain under obedience
to their bishop, and even the activities of laicized priests should be a concern
to the diocese.
This assignment record was last updated on 3/2/11.