Hundreds of clergy, pastoral leaders in Green Bay ara learn about childhood trauma

HOWARD, Wis. (WBAY) - Nearly 200 Catholic clergy members and spiritual caregivers attended a presentation Thursday on how to respond to victims of childhood trauma. The workshop was put on by the Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Green Bay.

This comes after jail records show a former Green Bay priest, Richard Thomas, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly violating his probation.

"The reality of sexual abuse in society is a very real one, it happens inside the church, and it happens outside the church,” said Fr. John Girotti from the Diocese of Green Bay. “This is a way for us as Catholics to become aware about the harm that has happened to victims inside the church, but also as a service to the community to help those who have been harmed in any way."

Thomas' was one of the names released by the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay of clergy members with "substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor." The 81-year-old was sentenced to four months in jail and three years on probation after being found guilty in 2016 of exposing his genitals to a child.

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