Attorney says only Sklba, not Archdiocese, seeks to block deposition

The lawyer for Milwaukee Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba said Wednesday that he will correct an error in a motion seeking to block a deposition of Sklba because it states that the archdiocese — and not Sklba alone — is seeking the action.

The victims advocacy group SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, drew attention to the assertion after the archdiocese posted a statement on its web site clarifying what it said was errors in media reports the previous day. Among them, it said that the motion was filed by Sklba’s personal attorney and not the archdiocese.

In an attempt to refute that, SNAP on Wednesday disseminated a page from the motion that says: “For all the reasons stated above, the Archdiocese respectfully requests that the Court grant its motion for a protective order.”

Attorney Patrick W. Brennan said he sent a letter to the court today changing the reference from “the Archdiocese” to “Bishop Sklba.”

Over the last two days, SNAP and the archdiocese have traded accusations of misrepresentation in their responses to the filing.

The archdiocese said SNAP’s statements imply it’s involved in the ongoing mediation between victims and the archdiocese, when it is not.

SNAP called disingenuous the archdiocese suggestion that its resources are not being used to pay for Sklba’s legal representation. It called on the archdiocese Wednesday to retract or remove its statement on the web site; clarify Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s position on blocking Sklba’s deposition; and identify the source of funding for Sklba’s legal bills.

Jerry Topczewski, Listecki’s chief of staff, said there is no need for a correction. Brennan declined to say exactly how he’s being paid. Topczewski said he did not know if Sklba has resources beyond those he earns from the archdiocese.

JSOnline