Listecki: Pope Benedict, Clergy Sex Abuse, and the Media

At the end of the Chrism Mass on Tuesday evening at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki delivered a statement defending Pope Benedict XVI, commenting on the case of Fr. Lawrence Murphy, and addressing the victims of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Listecki drew applause for a wide-ranging statement in which he apologized for the sex abuse scandal, reached out to victims and spread the blame for the mishandling of the Murphy case, citing Milwaukee church officials, civil authorities and the journalists who first brought victims' stories to light.

He said the church is indebted to "those brave victims" who have come forward to tell their stories, often "after decades of feeling ignored."

"Because of their persistence and perseverance, we know the church has changed," Listecki said. "We owe these victims-survivors our deep gratitude, and we acknowledge our own actions have not always expressed that gratitude adequately."

Benedict has been widely criticized in recent weeks for his handling of clergy sex abuse cases in Europe and Wisconsin in what's been described as the most serious crisis of his papacy.

Documents made public last week as part of a Wisconsin lawsuit show that the Vatican's top doctrinal office, led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, declined to defrock Murphy after being asked by then-Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland to do so in 1996. The decision was first reported by the Journal Sentinel in 2008 but drew international attention last week when lawyers in the case released the latest records to The New York Times.

...Church and civil authorities have known of the allegations against Murphy at least since the 1970s, though he never was charged. Authorities said no charges were filed because the statute of limitations had lapsed, though victims dispute this in some cases.

Read the full text of Archbishop Listecki's remarks.

He's very clear in his apology to the victims of clergy sex abuse.

He doesn't offer a weak non-apology apology. He acknowledges that the Church, not just the abusive priests, was in the wrong. He identifies the extreme suffering of the victims.

He also shows his support for Pope Benedict.

Listecki said:

As a bishop, a priest, and as a man of faith, I apologize to anyone who has been a victim of clergy sexual abuse. This crime, this sin, this horror, should never occur, especially by a priest. Those who committed these crimes and those, including some bishops, who didn’t do everything in their power to stop it, go against everything the Church and the priesthood represent. For those actions, I offer my sincere apology.

So many people have suffered – first and foremost victims and their families. Because of the actions of the few priests who committed these crimes, all of us continue to suffer today.

This past week our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has come under criticism for the way he has handled past cases of clergy sexual abuse of minors, including a case here involving Lawrence Murphy. The allegations against him, as well as the facts supporting him, are widely available.

The Holy Father does not need me to defend him or his decisions. I believe, and history will confirm that his actions in responding to this crisis, swiftly and decisively and his compassionate response to victims/survivors, speak for themselves. The Holy Father has been firm in his commitment to combat clergy sexual abuse; root it out of the Church; reach out to those who have been harmed; and hold perpetrators accountable.

...Mistakes were made in the Lawrence Murphy case. The mistakes were not made in Rome in the 1996, 1997 and 1998. The mistakes were made here, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, by the Church, by civil authorities, by Church officials, and by bishops. And for that, I beg your forgiveness in the name of the Church and in the name of this Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

...Even though some do not want to hear it or accept it as truth, mistakes were made by law enforcement, medical professionals -- even reporters who helped bring initial stories to light and grappled with how to deal with perpetrators. We have ALL learned so much.

Some people find fault with Listecki's apology. It's still not enough.

I really think no apology, no financial settlement, no punishment will ever be enough to satisfy some.

It's not enough for the Journal Sentinel.

...In Tuesday's remarks, Listecki did not elaborate on how reporters who covered the story were to blame. And he appeared to extend an olive branch to victims, who complained Monday that they were being vilified by the pope and Catholic hierarchy. It was unclear, however, whether he had softened his stance against meeting with SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has been seeking an audience with him. Listecki has said he would meet with individual victims but not the organization, which he sees as having a political agenda.

I think the JS is offended.

Listecki didn't blame reporters for the scandal. He pointed out that mistakes were made by many people.

The scandal wasn't adequately addressed by Church and civil authorities. The stories of abuse weren't always handled well by the media. Obviously, the scandal wasn't fully exposed and stopped.

I think he's right. Lots of mistakes were made along the way.

The language used in this article, by Annysa Johnson, questions Listecki's sincerity. She writes that "he appeared to extend an olive branch to victims."

"Appeared"?

"APPEARED"??

No. He did extend an olive branch to victims -- again.

Johnson notes that "it was unclear, however, whether he had softened his stance against meeting with SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests."

"Softened his stance"?

So unless Listecki meets with SNAP as a group, then he's not reaching out to victims?

That's an unfair charge.

SNAP does have an agenda -- revenge. It's not justice. It's not healing. It's not reconciliation. It's revenge.

Listecki will meet with victims, but not SNAP, the political organization.

I think that's reasonable. Why must he have a meeting with SNAP? If activists really care about victims, then they should be satisfied that the Archbishop is offering to talk with the victims.

SNAP doesn't speak for all the people who have suffered because of the scandal.

SNAP is assuming an Al Sharpton type of role in this matter.

Just as Sharpton appoints himself the spokesman for African Americans, SNAP is the self-appointed representative of abuse victims and the self-appointed judge and jury over the Church.

Mary Guentner of Wauwatosa, who was abused by a Catholic nun in the 1970s, said Listecki was sending a mixed message, first that victims are politicizing the issue, and now they're brave and courageous.

"They're very kind words, but we hope they result in some action," said Guentner, who waited in the receiving line to ask Listecki if he would meet with SNAP as a group.

I don't think Listecki is sending a mixed message. The fact is some victims are politicizing the issue. That doesn't mean that victims haven't been brave and courageous. Moreover, not all victims are of the same mindset.

I don't know what "action" Guenter is hoping to see from Listecki.

The Church has taken action. It continues to apologize. The Church, meaning all its members, is already paying enormous sums of money for the horrible crimes of a very few. We'll be paying out much more to victims.

In short, the Church has responded, and will continue to respond, in word and deed.

The few worshippers willing to speak after Mass said they were pleased that Listecki addressed the issue and maintained their faith in the church and Benedict XVI.

Johnson goes on to take a swipe at the worshippers. She sounds as if she's disturbed that most didn't want to be interviewed.

I can understand that. It's Holy Week. They just attended the Chrism Mass. I wouldn't want to talk to a reporter.

I don't think their silence should be interpreted as a lack of concern about the issue. I don't think it's an indication of hostility toward the victims or the Church leadership or the media.

Maybe they just want to focus on Holy Week.