On 26 August 2005 Bishop Listecki named Father Pat Webmaster for the Diocese of La Crosse.Fr. Umberger has definitely had no involvement with the diocesan website since he got cancer in 2008.
As best and I can piece together, there are some of the details on his cancer.
Date: April 8, 2008
As most of you know I was diagnosed with a Uveal Melanoma (Eye Cancer) twelve years ago. It was treated with Proton Beam Radiation in Boston and had been doing just fine, with some usable vision, until 15 months ago when there was an interior bleed. There has been no usable vision since then. I have undergone many surgeries in Boston and Rochester in the past months, and laser procedures to prevent abnormal vessels from breaking and to reduce eye pressure. Despite that the problems continue and the pressure remains eye and the eye painful and troublesome. We decided to day that it's the best course of action to remove the eye. I hope to have it done as soon as possible! I'll meet with a doctor at Mayo in Rochester tomorrow and set a date and course of action that will include a prosthetic eye in time (about 6 weeks after the surgery). I'm very much at peace with the course of action and have felt for some time that it's the best option. Keep me in your prayers. I'll let you know the exact date of the surgery soon! There will be no more pain, no more weakening eye-drops and no more trips to Boston. I'll only miss the trips to Boston.Date November 24, 2008
As you know, I was diagnosed this Summer with Multiple Myeloma. I'll be undergoing a Stem Cell Transplant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester during the month of December. This is not the "fetal stem cell" transplant the Church opposes, since it is necessary to destroy a life in order to obtain the stem cells. The stem cells will come from my own blood. I'll be evaluated the first week of December, then receive injections to increase the number of stem cells and send them into the blood. Then I'll be connected to machines five hours a day, when blood will be drawn and stem cells taken out. The stem cells will be frozen and I'll be given massive doses of Chemo. Then the stem cells will be reintroduced. The hope is that they'll start producing healthy blood cells. When resistance returns, I'll be able to return home. I should have Internet access during this time, and should be able to send Morning Prayer myself. Keep me in your prayers and know you're remembered in mine as well!And I finally found his blog where he updated his progress during the cancer treatment.
The last public post is this on January 9th 2009.
I had a more difficult day yesterday. I tried very hard to eat breakfast, but had nausea and was unable to keep it down. When we went to the Hospital my white blood cell count was .1 … which is where it needs to be. Platelets too, were very low … and today are at 8. I was given two liters of fluids and told to go home, but to watch my temperature. I was go call if it got up to 101.3. They were fairly sure it would reach that.
I wasn’t interested in anything yesterday. I slept all day simply because I was lying down. My caretaker said it was 5:30 and assumed that meant 5:30 in the morning. We took my temp and it was 101.4. Bill called Station 94 and they said to bring me in.
I continued to have diahhrea problems and still have that today. I was very weak, that’s for sure. So they did vitals, a bazillion blood and other tests, and then started IV’s for hydration and antibiotics as well. I imagine cultures will return soon.
People couldn’t be nicer or more helpful here. They say, “You’re in the bottom of the trench,” and thats where I need to be. Today I’ve received constant IV’s, platelets, red blood cells, antibiotics, etc.
Well, in short, I’ve been admitted to Methodist Hospital where I’ll stay for several days or even a week. But I’m in a very good and safe place. 70% or more of transplant patients end up in the hospital.]
I took no interest in anything today, sleeping most of the time … and going back and for the to the rest room. But at 5 or 5:30 I turned on the news. That’s been OK, but things seem to move awfully fast. Thanks so much for your precious prayers on my behalf. They’re precious to me, that’s for sure! Don’t stop praying now. And be assured of my ongoing prayerful support.
So I guess the point is when Umberger told the diocese and Birnbaum that he had problems with frequent urination, it seemed pretty damn probable that it came from his medical condition. In hindsight, sure it could have been a warning sign. But a priest of perfect record for 30 years, appeared to be exemplary in performing his duties, plus almost died from cancer treatment(that's why he stopped the blogging after this post) six months prior..... Well, I'm pretty sure I'd make the same decision in those shoes.
For all Badger Catholic coverage of Fr Umberger, click here.
7 comments:
THANK YOU! Wish everybody would read your excellent investigative work.
Yes, thank you.
I pray, I hope this can be resolved with Fr. U. in the "clear". Truly.
O Jesus, protect our priests, help them in every way, and give them Your Peace and Grace to love You above All. Amen.
What else was discussed at that 2009 meeting, though? (We'll never know, will we, since, as Birnbaum stated, "it's attorney/client privilege"?)
Did Fr. Pat admit to Birnbaum and Fr. Hirsch, at the 2009 meeting, what he has recently admitted?
If he did, (and he should have!)and he did not receive or seek help.....then the Diocese protected him, until it was too late.
And even if the 2009 incident were an 'unsubtantiated allegation', how is it that former Bishop Listecki (quote) "had no previous indication that there were any potential issues that would have prevented Fr. Pat from serving in public ministry." Does that mean he didn't know about the 2009 incident?
Apparently not since he was not sent away on "retreat" or removed in some discreet way. After all the scandals we've seen blow up in the news I doubt anyone would have been willing to risk going down with Umberger.
You are right to say if the diocese protected Fr. Umberger in such a way, that is a big scandal and could have enabled Umberger to commit even worse crimes. I see no indication that Umberger did not lie or withhold these details at that time.
Listecki's statement could have meant 'no previous [conclusive] indications' or some other declination. I'm sure if pressed he'd give no comment citing legal implications. If he knew the diocese's 2009 investigation turned up nothing, I think the statement he issued is fair, although not completely forthright.
"If he knew the diocese's 2009 investigation turned up nothing, I think the statement he issued is fair..."
But again, that statement boils down to what else may have been said at that 2009 meeting.
I would ASSUME that, as the leader of the priests of the Diocese, the Bishop would have been present at that 2009 meeting, but I think I read that Mr. Birnbaum stated he doesn't recall who else was at the meeting. (I would think that would be documented in Fr. Umberger's file.)
I wish our Catholic leaders would end their political aspirations within the Church, and just be our Catholic leaders.
I wish our Catholic leaders would end their political aspirations within the Church, and just be our Catholic leaders.
There is truth truth to that. But in this case if Listecki is aware of 1) Dells incident 2) Cancer recover/health problems story 3) I assume some investigation done by the diocese themselves, that is protocol for this type of allegations although Birnbaum seems unwilling to confirm that 4) This investigation showed Umberger's story sticks; then I don't know what else Listecki should have done or said.
If Umberger admits his extra curriculars in the diocesan investigation as he apparently has done to investigators, this is a MAJOR problem and another black eye to Wisconsin bishops(has any state besides Massachusetts been worse?). But I don't think this was the case. I think Umberger lied about everything until he was aware of the porn charges.
The diocese should be proactive in addressing the public's concerns... but they are not.
I doubt the Papers, whoever they are and am sick of all the jumbo against Patrick Umberger. I have had emails from him which have all been decent and comical. He has done good in his Morning Prayers and others. I have found nothing weird of Patrick Umberger. He is as human as anyone else. All the illnesses that he has gone through is enough to possibly do Psychological effects on him. I think that those who are making the remarks about him, ought to remember the words that Jesus said, "He who is without sin, be first to cast the stone." Truthfully, I am sick of the people who are so willing to crucify a Catholic Priest, but not say anything about the Protestant Minister or person. We need to pray for Pat Umberger and other Priests.
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