45 Priests in the archdiocese of Milwaukee sexually abused children. And the church knew. And did nothing.
There are 334 priests assigned to the archdiocese of Milwaukee today. 182 of those are active and 152 are retired. The 45 priests identified below were active in the ministry while abusing children. That means, in today's numbers, as many as 25% of priests are likely pedophiles. 1 in 4!!!!
List of Pedophiles
Raymond Adamsky
James Arimond
Ronald Bandle - Deceased
James Beck
Franklyn Becker
Michael Benham - Deceased
Frederick Bistricky - Deceased
Daniel Budzynski
You may recall that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles released over 12,000 pages of documents pertaining to its cover-up of child sexual abuse Tree Climbers: Archdiocese of LA Released 12,000 Pages Related to Catholic Church Child Sex Abuse where 122 priests were revealed as pedophiles.
Pedophiles Cont'd
Peter Burns
S. Joseph Collova - Deceased
Andrew Doyle - Deceased
William Effinger - Deceased
Ronald Engel
George Etzel - Deceased
William Farrell - Deceased
James Flynt
Pedophilia is a combination of access and opportunity. Joining the priesthood is one way to ensure both with a cloak of reverance added. No one would question a priest...
Pedophiles Cont'd
James Godin
Edmund Haen - Deceased
David Hanser
Harold Herbst - Deceased
George Hopf - Deceased
James Jablonowski
Marvin Knighton
John Knotek - Deceased
Statistics show that pedophiles, over the course of a lifetime, unchecked will abuse hundreds of children. These men were unchecked for decades.
Pedophiles Cont'd
Michael Krejci
Eugene Kreuzer - Deceased
Oswald Krusing -Deceased
Jerome Lanser - Deceased
Eldred Lesniewski - Deceased
Daniel Massie
Lawrence Murphy - Deceased
You may recall that I wrote a piece on Lawrence Murphy who sexually abused over 200 boys at a school for the deaf: Tree Climbers: Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Pedophiles Cont'd
Donald Musinski - Deceased
Michael Neuberger
Richard Nichols - Deceased
George Nuedling - Deceased
John O'Brien
Donald Peters
Roger Schneider
Clarence Schouten - Deceased
Extrapolated, at the high end there could be at a minimum 244 victims to thousands of victims in this one archdiocese. Currently, there are 570 claims of childhood sexual abuse against the archdiocese (currently in bankruptcy)
Pedophiles Cont'd
Vincent Silvestri - Deceased
Thomas Trepanier
Jerome Wagner
John Wagner
Charles Walter
Sigfried Widera - Deceased
Of the 45 priests, 1/2 are decased, but there are 22 (15 of whom have been "officially" defrocked) pedohpiles still walking around today.
Of the 45 priests accused of child sex abuse, these 22 are still living. While some have left the ministry, I have no doubt that they may have sought other positions with access and opportunity. These are in alphabetical order and can also be accessed via their names linked in the article
(excerpt)
What we do today in responding to reports of abuse is different than in decades past but that fact does not erase the past. The documents present one part of the history of what happened and demonstrate how people tried to do their best with what they knew at the time. We may never have the complete picture because the records are not always clear and there is no way to delve more deeply because many of the people involved are dead or have had memories fade as 20, 30 or 40 years or more have passed.
But, we know that bad things happened to innocent children and youth. The arc of understanding sexual abuse of a minor progressed from being seen as a moral failing and sin that needed personal resolve and spiritual direction; to a psychological deficiency that required therapy and could be cured; to issues of addiction requiring more extensive therapy and restrictions on ministry; to recognition of the long-term effects of abuse and the need to hold the perpetrator accountable for this criminal activity.
But the excuses continue...which leads me to believe that not much has or will change...
I’ve heard people say, what was so difficult? A child was abused; the priest should be put in jail. That sentiment probably best reflects the change in societal thinking over the decades and these documents show the progression and evolution of thinking on this topic. In the documents are examples of parents wanting the bishop to know about Father’s behavior, but not wanting the police involved. There are examples of doctors and therapists in the 1970s, seemingly more concerned about “Father” than about the children, operating on a professional belief that there would be no long-lasting impact on a young child. The vast majority of reports were not about events involving a current minor, but about adults reporting something in the past that happened to them decades ago, meaning no criminal charges could be pursued.
Similarly, Cardinal Timothy Dolan seems to want to brush aside the criticisms this release will bring and seems to continue making excuses about why the abusing priests have the right to continue receiving compensation/support...
(excerpt)
Unfortunately, we have already seen how the release of these documents will cause some to raise old and discredited attacks – like priest-abusers having been “paid” to apply for laicization, (like it or not, bishops do have a canon law obligation to provide basic support like health care and room and board for their priests until they have finally moved on) or that establishing a perpetual care fund from money belonging to cemeteries and designated for that purpose – as required by state law and mandated by the archdiocesan finance council – was an attempt to shield it from the bankruptcy proceedings. While certain groups can be counted-upon to take certain statements or events out of context, the documents released show plainly that the bishops have been faithful to the promises made over a decade ago: permanent removal from ministry of any priest who abused a minor; complete cooperation with law enforcement officials; and, strict child-safety requirements.
A news report can be found at this link.