Individual Catholics and the Catholic Church itself continue to be popular targets for media bias in our country.
Whenever there is an allegation of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, newspapers usually publish an article on the front page, while television and radio news reports lead with the story. Even if the alleged abuse happened 30 or 40 years ago, it gets prime coverage.
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| This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop. |
Each year we are invited to reflect on the whole of our Lenten journey in the context of Jesus’ temptations in the desert. That’s a model, if you will, a paradigm, for what is supposed to happen during Lent. And, I am happy to say that I discovered again this year that, substantially, my reflections on this Gospel passage are in line with those of our Holy Father. I know that when I’m in communion with the Holy Father, by God’s grace and for the good of the diocese, I’m right on target.
MADISON — Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, archbishop of Milwaukee, spoke at a public hearing held January 12 at the State Capitol against a bill that would, if passed, repeal the statute of limitations for all civil suits filed by childhood sexual abuse victims.
Senate Bill 319 and its counterpart AB-453, currently in committee in the State Assembly, would also create a window for suits previously barred by the statute of limitations. The current statute, amended in 2003, allows child sexual abuse victims 17 years past their 18th birthday to bring a case to civil court against their perpetrator or the perpetrator’s employer if the assault occurred due in part to the employer’s negligence.
MADISON — The members of the Diocese of Madison’s Sexual Abuse Review Board have, after a preliminary investigation into the testimonies and facts surrounding an allegation of child-sexual abuse made against Fr. Joseph Gibbs Clauder, found the allegation to be credible.
Considering the Review Board’s findings, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has agreed with their evaluation and has referred this case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), in Rome, for judgment.
It has come to the attention of Bishop Robert C. Morlino that Reverend Gerald Vosen has recently published a book named, Pick a Number: Stories of Faith. In the book, Fr. Vosen makes explicit mention of what occurred during a penal trial, which was initiated to investigate allegations against him involving the abuse of a minor. As Fr. Vosen knows, the entire penal trial is under the Pontifical Secret and no mention of its proceeding is to be made.
