Police chief: Archbishop Listecki untruthful to state senators about abuse reporting policy

February 05, 2010

The police chief of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is alleging that Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee spoke untruthfully to the state senate judiciary committee on January 12 about the Diocese of La Crosse’s abuse-reporting policy. The archbishop served as Bishop of La Crosse from 2004 to 2009.

Under the diocese’s abuse-reporting policy, which was reprinted in the diocesan newspaper in late January, victims are asked to report incidents of alleged abuse to the diocese, which in turn reports them to civil authorities. For over a year, Police Chief Jerry Matysik has asked the diocese to change its policy and urge victims to reports incidents directly to police.

On January 12, Archbishop Listecki told the state senate’s judiciary committee that the policy had been changed. “He either misunderstood the question or misled the committee,” said Matysik.

 

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Further information:

• Listecki misled legislators on policy, Eau Claire police chief says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Priest faces sex assault charge in Wisconsin (CWN, 2/4)