"Nearly two years after being shot three times in an attempted robbery in Milwaukee, Simon Muema professes first vows as a Salvatorian"

MILWAUKEE — When Simon Muema didn’t return home one Sunday evening in November 2014, police offered Salvatorian Fr. Paul Portland what they considered a logical explanation.

“He just wanted to leave and didn’t want to tell you,” Fr. Portand recalls being told when he went to the police station to file a missing person’s report.

Fr. Portland, director of candidates for the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians), explained that a report was eventually filed for the missing Muema, but it was considered non-critical because the police thought he likely left of his own free will.

Muema, 40, a native of Kenya, who came to Milwaukee and joined the Salvatorians in July 2014 with the intention of becoming a priest, was last seen volunteering at the St. Ben’s meal program on Sunday evening, Nov. 30.
...
It was a young man who shot him – someone about 22 years old – whom Muema had seen regularly at the meal program. He often chatted with him and even ran into him a couple times at an area gas station near the meal program. In fact, the two had struck up a friendship of sorts and Muema spoke with him several times about helping him find employment at a McDonalds or Walmart so he wouldn’t need to “hustle” for money at the gas station.

continue at MKE Catholic Herald

Wow, this is intense, a good article, go read it.

Dad29: The Salvatorians' Dissembling Problem

via Dad29:

When Bill Clinton was President, I learned the term "parse."  It proved useful.

Evidently, it's quite useful to--of all entities--the Salvatorian order, too.

..."...Rodrigues [the local chief Salvatorian] told the Journal Sentinel he did not know of any other allegations against Marsicek. On Tuesday, he defended that statement, noting that he had been careful to say the order did not have any other allegations 'from a victim.' In the Sacramento case, the allegations came to the order through the diocese."  --JS Online quoted at Provincial Emails

If you've paid attention, you'll know that one of the three most vicious child-rapists in Milwaukee was a Salvatorian priest operating from Mother of Good Counsel's rectory.

This "boundary issues" thing is a bit problematic.  A "hug" can be interpreted differently.

That said, there's a maxim worth knowing:  "pattern of practice."  Just so Fr. Rodrigues knows, that's a very specific legal term with which he should get acquainted, soon.

I would recommend Mr. Berres' post: It depends on what the meaning of the word 'safe' is.

SNAP:  At “Mass of Atonement” Listecki must explain leaving Wauwatosa priest with years of child sex abuse reports working with children
 

Milwaukee Archdiocese knew of Wauwatosa priest accusations but did not suspend him

Catholic Church officials in Milwaukee had known for 10 months that Father Robert Marsicek was under investigation on suspicion of molesting two children in California, according to the Sacramento diocese.  But they did not move to suspend him from his duties at two local parishes and schools until a new allegation surfaced at a Wauwatosa school last month.

Kevin Eckery, a spokesman for the Diocese of Sacramento, said officials there notified the Archdiocese of Milwaukee; Marsicek's Milwaukee-based religious order, the Society of the Divine Savior; and attorneys for both of the organizations about the California allegations in May 2012.

Marsicek is accused of sexually abusing two children in one family while he served at Divine Savior Parish in Orangevale, according to an announcement read at the California parish last weekend.

Archdiocese spokesman Jerry Topczewski and Divine Savior Provincial Father Joseph Rodrigues said no steps were taken to restrict Marsicek from parishes or schools because to do so might have compromised the California investigation. Topczewski said that is in keeping with the archdiocese's policy in such cases.

"You can't just remove a guy without telling him why," he said. "And if you tell him why, does he have an opportunity to start building a defense? Could he flee, try to pressure people? It's a huge balancing act."

continue at JS 

... I'm not sure it's that complicated.  Shouldn't the policy be changed if it doesn't call for removal of priest being formally investigated?

Let the record state Marsicek has NOT been charged.

'The Society of the Divine Savior said it had been notified by the district attorney's office that no charges would be brought against Father Robert Marsicek, who was relieved of his duties at Pius X parish in Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa Catholic School and Mother of Good Counsel parish and school in Milwaukee shortly before Easter. ... 

TPE: No charges issued against Wauwatosa priest

via The Provincial Emails

Annysa Johnson reports at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

'The Society of the Divine Savior said it had been notified by the district attorney's office that no charges would be brought against Father Robert Marsicek, who was relieved of his duties at Pius X parish in Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa Catholic School and Mother of Good Counsel parish and school in Milwaukee shortly before Easter. ...

Father Joseph Rodrigues, provincial of the Milwaukee-based order known as the Salvatorians, said Marsicek would remain off the job until the order completes its own review.'

See my April 1, 2013 post.

TPE: A Wauwatosa priest ordered to stay away from his church and school

via The Provincial Emails

WTMJ-TV reported Friday that Salvatorian Father Bob Marsicek was suspended as pastor of St. Pius X Church in Wauwatosa (a Milwaukee suburb).

"Police are investigating an allegation Marsicek Had inappropriate contact with a student at Wauwatosa Catholic -- a combination of St. Pius and St. Bernard students.
...
"Marsicek was suspended Thursday. He has not been arrested. There are few details about the accusations.
...
"Fr. Rodrigues, Salvitorian's [sic] Religious Order Provincial, tells TODAY'S TMJ4 they are 'in the dark' about what exactly was reported to police. ..."

Parishioners interviewed found the situation unbelievable, based on their knowledge of Fr. Marsicek.
(via SNAP Wisconsin)

 Innocent until proven guilty.