Novena to Our Lady of Good Help - Oct 1-9
Ugh, I forgot to start my Total Consecration. To those interested, making the Total Consecration to Our Lady of Good Help starts 6-Sept. Well I'll have to make sure and hit the Novena. I have really enjoyed the rosary procession and the reading of the account of the Peshtigo Fire.
Bishop Robert Morneau, retired from Green Bay Diocese, withdraws from public ministry due to failure to report abuse
A retired Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay has withdrawn from public ministry, saying he regrets his failure to report the abuse of a minor by a priest.
Diocese newspaper "The Compass" printed a letter from Bishop Robert Morneau to current Bishop David Ricken. Morneau says, "I failed to report to local authorities an incident of abuse of a minor by a priest in 1979 and, as a result, this priest was able to abuse again several years later."
Morneau continued, "I intend to spend my time in prayer for all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and I will do corporal works of mercy in reparation for what I failed to do."
"The Compass" reports Morneau is referencing the case of former priest David Boyea. Boyea was convicted of first degree sexual assault of a child in 1985.
Boyea was ordained in 1973. Morneau was bishop in 1979.
"Looking back, I should have handled this situation differently than I did at the time. At the time, I was asked by the family of the victim to arrange an apology from the offending priest, which I did. I felt at the time I had done what was asked of me by helping the parties to reconcile," Morneau said.
Update:
The Compass: Bishop Morneau requests withdrawal from public ministry
Bishop Robert Morneau, retired auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, has requested and has been granted a withdrawal from all public ministry. In a letter dated Sept. 14 and addressed to Bishop David Ricken, Bishop Morneau stated that he failed to report to authorities an incident of priest sexual abuse of a minor in 1979.
“As a result,” wrote Bishop Morneau, “this priest was able to abuse again several years later. … I intend to spend my time in prayer for all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and I will do corporal works of mercy in reparation for what I failed to do.”
In a separate letter, Bishop Ricken acknowledged the request.
Diocese of Green Bay Holding Listening Sessions in Light of National Allegations
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - The Diocese of Green Bay will be holding several listening sessions throughout September regarding last month's sexual abuse allegations against the Catholic church. The first will take place on Wednesday at St. Rose Parish in Clintonville from 7-8:30 p.m.continue at WeAreGB
Bishop David Ricken, who has spoken out against the priests accused of sexually abusing children, says that he wants to listen to people's concerns - including anyone who has been impacted by the recent reports and events.
As part of his "Action Steps to Accountability," Bishop Ricken also states that he wants to both offer care to any victims and ensure that abusers do not remain in the ministry.
Milwaukee Archdiocese holds 'Vigil of Reparation'
Dozens gathered at Milwaukee's Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Saturday for what the Archdiocese called a "Vigil of Reparation" in regards to widespread sex abuse in the Catholic Church.continue at WISN
Archbishop Jerome Listecki about priests in Pennsylvania accused of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over seven decades, proclaiming that it never should have happened anywhere in the first place
"For those actions, I apologize to anyone who was abused by someone in the church, especially those who are young children," said Listecki.
The image to this story is the interior to the Milwaukee Cathedral which needs its own reparations.
Illinois priest removed for homosexual porn, misappropriating $29,000
An Illinois priest accused of patronizing a male prostitute in the 1990s and misappropriating $40,000 from a parish in 2005 has now been removed from ministry for “immoral activity” involving homosexual pornography and allegedly misspending up to $29,000 at two parishes he oversaw in the Diocese of Springfield.continue at Catholic World Report
The Rev. Barry J. Harmon, 55, was removed from ministry and will apply for laicization, Springfield Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki wrote in a Sept. 5 email to diocesan priests. Harmon has agreed to make restitution for the misappropriated funds, Paprocki said. Harmon was initially placed on medical leave Oct. 30, 2017 from his role as pastor of Mother of Dolors Catholic Church in Vandalia and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ramsey, Ill.
During the medical leave, the diocese discovered financial irregularities at the parishes, and “immoral activity inconsistent with the life of a priest,” Paprocki wrote. He did not offer details. “We have found nothing to indicate that there was inappropriate activity with minors,” Paprocki wrote. Diocesan spokeswoman Marlene Mulford would not elaborate on the “immoral activity,” but she said the diocese “is sure this does not involve minors.”
Marquette Faculty Senate Mulling Ways to Silence Warrior Blogger
An e-mail from the Marquette Provost about a meeting of the Academic Senate sounds bland enough.continue at Marquette Warrior
But it’s necessary to know some context to know what’s going on.
When Marquette lost its legal case against us, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed our contractual right to blog about things at Marquette (including misconduct at Marquette), the university released a truculent statement affirming it was right to try to fire us.
Cupich’s soon-to-be auxiliary bishop was cleared in ’08 misconduct probe
A priest set to be elevated to an auxiliary bishop by Cardinal Blase Cupich was investigated a decade ago over an allegation of sexual misconduct with a child that state authorities deemed “unfounded,” the Archdiocese of Chicago revealed on Friday.continue at Chicago Sun Times
The archdiocese made the unusual disclosure about Rev. Robert Casey Friday evening “for the sake of transparency” ahead of Monday’s Ordination Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, where he and two other priests will become Cupich’s auxiliary bishops, according to archdiocese spokeswoman Anne Maselli.
Casey, 50, was removed from the ministry for about four weeks in 2008 as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated a complaint about an incident alleged to have occurred that year, Maselli said. State investigators determined the claim was “unfounded,” the archdiocese said.
“According to a letter from DCFS communicating this decision, ‘this means that credible evidence does not exist to support the allegation made,’ ” the archdiocese said in their Friday statement. “Given this determination, Bishop-elect Casey was returned to ministry.”
He is the former director of the now scandalous Casa Jesus.
Aiming for Christ event at Waukesha Gun Club Oct 6
Aiming for Christ is back and the event is set for SATURDAY October 6 at the Waukesha Gun Club. (For you Badger fans -- don’t worry, we should be done by 2 pm!)
Cost for the event is $40/person or $200/ per 5-man squad and includes:
- Mass beginning at 7 am.
- Light breakfast
- Event to include sporting clays and a 5 stand flurry
- A visit from Archbishop Listecki
- Lunch
- A virtue talk
- Social afterwards, wrapping up by 2 pm.
Online registration
(When registering, under “Parish” enter your squad leader’s name for full (5 member) or partial squad, or enter “Single” if you are not part of a squad.)Questions? Contact Michael Schulze at mkschulze10@gmail.com or 262-327-4258.
Abp. Hebda reported to be likely successor of Cdl Wuerl in DC
Sources in Rome have told CNA that on his recent visit, Cardinal Wuerl presented several suggestions for his eventual replacement in Washington. While the list remains confidential, several curial sources told CNA that one bishop named was Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis.article at CNA
Hebda arrived in Minneapolis as an emergency apostolic administrator in 2015 following the resignation of Archbishop Nienstedt, who was himself accused of sexual misconduct. At the same time, Hebda served as the coadjutor Archbishop of Newark and had been slated to succeed Archbishop John Myers.
While in Newark, Hedba gained a reputation as a reformer with a close interest in archdiocesan affairs, conducting unannounced visits to priests and parishes, and choosing to live on the campus of Seton Hall University where the archdiocesan seminary is housed.
Following his arrival in Minneapolis, Hebda brought the archdiocese through a protracted bankruptcy process, following multiple suits brought against it for cases of sexual abuse.
Just a tidbit on Hebda's tenure in the much troubled Newark Archdiocese:
One priest said that expectations of change were raised during the brief tenure of Archbishop Bernard Hebda, appointed in 2013 to be Myers’ coadjutor archbishop, his successor-in-waiting.
Hebda chose to live in a dormitory at Seton Hall University and was a frequent sight around the archdiocesan seminaries. He was also reported to make unannounced visits to parishes, suddenly knocking at the back doors of rectories or sliding in to a back pew at Sunday Mass.
In 2015, before Hebda could become Newark’s archbishop, he was asked to serve as apostolic administrator of Minneapolis- St. Paul, in the wake of Archbishop John Nienstedt’s resignation. Hebda was appointed Nienstedt’s permanent replacement in 2016.
“He wasn’t kidding around. You could tell he wanted to know everything, who was who and what was what - and who was into what,” one pastor who received a surprise visit from Hebda told CNA.
Cardinal Cupich Calls Closed-Door Meeting With Chicago Priests
Cardinal Blase Cupich has scheduled a closed-door meeting with Chicago priests this week, NBC 5 has learned, to discuss the current crisis facing the church.continue at NBC Chicago
The invitation for the meeting, planned for Wednesday evening, was sent to all priests in the Chicago Archdiocese. It will take place a day before Pope Francis plans to sit down Thursday with key American bishops who have requested a meeting on the sex abuse crisis.
Though Cupich's meeting isn't mandatory, a second email was forwarded on Tuesday instructing attendees to print out the invitation and bring it with them, as the meeting is considered a private conversation with the Cardinal.
"One of my major concerns in this moment of suffering for many in the church is you," Cupich's letter to Chicago priests read in part.
Bishop Powers of Superior on the current abuse crisis
Once again we are all hurt, confused and angered by the recent news of Archbishop McCarrick’s abuses, the grand jury report from Pennsylvania, and the accusations against Pope Francis. As we move forward, the way is not totally clear, but I vow with the help of God to do everything in my power to lead our diocese with transparency and integrity in all things.continue at SupCH
First and foremost, I offer my prayers and support for justice and healing to all victims of clergy abuse. Second, I offer my apologies for Church cover-ups and lack of transparent action, which led to sexual abuse of both children and adults, including seminarians. Third, I strongly encourage any victims of Catholic Church sexual abuse to bravely come forward and report the crimes committed against them. Finally, I ask for prayers of support for the great majority of our holy priests and bishops, who will continue their good and dedicated service to all of us and our Catholic Church.
As a priest and pastor, I have fully supported the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and believe that the Diocese of Superior has taken every step possible to prevent abuse from happening in our diocese since its adoption 16 years ago. I am not aware of any currently serving priests or parish staff in our Diocese that are known or rumored to be abusers. I firmly believe that any of our active or retired priests would come to me if they have any knowledge of abuse. We have been carefully following the safety guidelines of the charter since 2002. Independent auditors have consistently found our diocese to be in compliance with all audited articles within the charter, most recently in July of 2018.
Pewaukee priest accused of inappropriately touching teenage girl during confession
A Waukesha County priest is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl in a confessional at church.continue to WTMJ
Father Chuck Hanel, the long-time pastor of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church in Pewaukee is charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child.
The teenage girl was an altar server and reader at the church. According to the criminal complaint, she claims Father Hanel “touched her breast over her clothes, then rested his hand on her leg near her privates” while she was face to face with him inside a confessional. She said her parents were inside the church when it happened last December.
This article is from last week btw and the incident originally happened in April.
For the record, face to face confessions should be outlawed for this exact reason.
Cardinal Cupich on scandal: ‘We have a bigger agenda than to be distracted by all of this’
The young man studying at Mundelein Seminary to become a Catholic priest seemed anguished as he vented to Cardinal Blase Cupich about the clergy sex-abuse scandal that threatens to topple Pope Francis and drive more people away from the faith.continue at Chicago Sun Times
“I’m hurting, I can’t sleep, I’m sick,” the seminarian told Cupich during an Aug. 29 gathering at which the cardinal spoke to about 200 future priests enrolled at the seminary, according to another person who was there and spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times but asked not to be identified.
The seminarian told Cupich he was a young boy during the last scandal, in the early 2000s — amid a renewed wave of child-rape allegations against priests and cover-ups by their bishop bosses — and “thought this was over,” that the bishops had done their jobs.
Randall Cobb finds perfect way to celebrate his big night in Green Bay
Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb, whose 75-yard touchdown was the tipping point of a wild comeback Sunday night at Lambeau Field, found an adorable way to celebrate his success: He brought the game ball home to share the moment with his newborn son.continue at JS
Lots of sports excitement between the Brewers, Badgers and Packers right now. The Packers game was one for the ages, but it's tonight's Windy City game that has me the most excited.
déja vu: Father Mankoski on 'What Went Wrong?'
From Fr. Paul Mankowski, July 15, 2003, at Catholic Culture.
"the single important difference in the Church’s failure regarding abusive clergy and the failures regarding liturgy, catechesis, pro-life politics, doctrinal dissent and biblical translation is this: that in the case of the sex abuse scandal we’ve been allowed a look over the bishops’ shoulders at their own memos. ...Fifteen years, yet it seems like ...
"What we read in those files was shocking, true, but to most of us it was shocking in its sense of déja vu. In the years following the Second Vatican Council, the housewife who complained that Father skipped the Creed at mass and the housewife who complained that Father groped her son had remarkably similar experiences of being made to feel that they themselves were somehow in the wrong; that they had impugned the honor of virtuous men; that their complaints were an unwelcome interruption of more important business; that the true situation was fully known to the chancery and completely under control; that the wider and more complete knowledge of higher ecclesiastics justified their apparent inaction; that to criticize the curate was to criticize the pastor was to criticize the regional vicar was to criticize the bishop; that to publicize one’s dissatisfaction was to give scandal and would positively harm discreet efforts at remedying the ills; that one’s duty was to maintain silence and trust that those officially charged with the pertinent responsibilities would execute them in their own time; that delayed correction of problems was sometimes necessary for the universal good of the Church.
...
"In thousands and thousands of pages of records one scarcely, if ever, is edified by a pleasant surprise, by discovering that a bishop’s or superior’s concern for the victim or for the Faith was greater than that known to the public, that the engines of justice were geared up and running at full throttle, but in a manner invisible to those outside the circle of discretion. Didn’t happen."
...only yesterday, Catholic faithful demand change after sex abuse scandals, by Amy Forliti, Associated Press, at Crux, September 9, 2018.
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