Head of Bishops' Conference, Accused of Sexual Abuse, Denies Claim, Catholic Explorer, March 9, 2006

Head of Bishops' Conference, Accused of Sexual Abuse, Denies Claim

Catholic Explorer
March 9, 2006

http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/
nationworld/head-of-bishops-conferenc.shtml

SPOKANE, Wash. (CNS) -- Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has denied a woman's claim that he sexually abused her more than 40 years ago when she was a minor.

Diocesan attorney Greg Arpin said in a March 8 statement, "Bishop Skylstad categorically denies the accusation."

"I have kept the promise of celibacy that I made when I was ordained a deacon 47 years ago," Bishop Skylstad said in the statement. "I hope that the Spokane community will join me in praying for all those who have come forward to report sexual abuse. Please pray for me as well."

Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivers the homily at Mass Nov. 14 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington during the bishops' fall general meeting.
(CNS photo by Bob Roller)

The statement said that the diocesan sexual abuse review board and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, have been advised of the accusation.

News of the claim was reported by media outlets March 8, but the news stories said it was filed last December as part of the diocese's bankruptcy process.

Bishop Skylstad, 72, has been a priest since 1960 and a bishop since 1977. He has headed the Spokane Diocese since 1990. He is currently in the second year of a three-year term as USCCB president.

In November 2004 the Spokane Diocese entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection proceedings to deal with dozens of lawsuits against the diocese over the alleged sexual abuse of minors by priests in the diocese.

The woman's claim that Bishop Skylstad abused her in the early 1960s was filed in the course of court-supervised diocesan outreach appealing to any additional victims of clerical sexual abuse in the diocese to come forward, according to The Spokesman-Review, a Spokane daily newspaper. The woman's name has not been made public.

"Because of the potential emotional fragility of individuals who have suffered sexual abuse, the bankruptcy court has ordered that strict protocols of confidentiality be observed by all parties," said the five-paragraph statement read by Arpin. "Therefore there will be no further comment at this time."