Archbishop Weakland defends his handling of sex-abuse cases

January 13, 2010

Former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland has defended his handling of sex-abuse complaints, with an email message to Associated Press saying that he did his best, given what he knew at the time. Archbishop Weakland—who has acknowledged that he shredded evidence of abuse by priests during his tenure in Milwaukee—has come under fresh criticism as he appears in the city this week to address the National Cathedral Ministry Conference. Sex-abuse victims have argued that the archbishop—who stepped down in 2002 after it emerged that he had paid over $400,000 in archdiocesan funds to buy the silence of a man who accused him of abuse—should not be granted the prominence of such a public appearance. The archbishop was also denounced by a state legislator who referred to him as a “piece of work” during hearings this week.

 

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Further information:

• Former Milwaukee bishop: I did my best (AP)
• SNAP Protests Weakland Convention Speech (TMJ)
• Archbishop Weakland shredded evidence of abuse, court documents show (CWN, 12/3/2009)
• Wis. senator insults former archbishop (WKOW)