Weakland Leaving Milwaukee

UPDATE, MAY 11, 2009: Weakland is Gay
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What has the disgraced former Archbishop of Milwaukee been doing with his time?

We know that he's written a book, A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop.

The publication of the book coincides with Weakland's departure from the Milwaukee area.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Former Milwaukee Catholic Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, who retired in 2002 amid accusations of a sexual scandal, has decided to leave Milwaukee for a Benedictine abbey in New Jersey.

Weakland, 82, has accepted an invitation to live out his retirement years at St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown, N.J., the archdiocese said.

Reached by telephone Thursday morning, Weakland declined to comment. He said he would not agree to be interviewed by the Journal Sentinel, which has reported extensively on his personal scandal and his alleged role in covering up sex abuse by other priests, now the subject of civil lawsuits.

Asked why, Weakland said, "I'm not giving any reasons, thank you," before hanging up.

Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf announced Weakland's departure in an internal memo to staff Wednesday, alerting them to a pending New York Times article that she said is likely to "spark emotions."

That article is expected to focus on Weakland's soon-to-be released book, "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop," which publisher Wm. B. Eerdmans says "describes with poignant honesty" the archbishop's "psychological, spiritual and sexual growth."

"Some will be angry about the book," which is expected to be released this summer, Wolf said in the memo to staff.

"But others will support it," Wolf said Thursday. "There are varying opinions about Archbishop Weakland, about his tenure here and everything that took place prior to his retirement."

Obviously, I can't discuss specifics of the book without reading it or at least having access to excerpts.

Assuming that portions of it are Weakland's attempt to explain his scandalous actions and redeem himself, I can imagine that the book will "spark emotions."

I don't need a book to get my emotions sparked on this subject.

All I have to do is watch video of Weakland's deposition related to lawsuits against the Church due to the sexual abuse scandal.

Read the transcript of the full deposition here.

It's nauseating.

I don't want to read Weakland's account of his experience, courtesy of the New York Times. I've read enough. His 11-page letter to his lover, Paul Marcoux, was more than enough.

I'm wondering about the profits he'll make from his book.

Will they go to repay the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for the half million dollars paid out in hush money to Marcoux?

That hush money came from the hard-earned dollars of southeastern Wisconsin Catholics, faithful parishioners who donated to the Church thinking they were helping to support its various ministries, not cover up Weakland's mess.

The cost of the Marcoux scandal was more than the hush money. What's the total price tag when Weakland's legal defense bills are included?

Will Weakland's profits be used to help settle lawsuits brought against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, directly related to his actions in the sexual abuse scandal during his time as archbishop?

I think that would be an appropriate penance for Weakland.

I've never really had the feeling that Weakland was sorry. I don't get the impression that he's interested in reconciliation.