Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock Thursday, June 13-Saturday, June 15, 2002 Attend Spring Meeting, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Dallas, Texas Sunday, June 16, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Commemoration of the 9th Anniversary of Bishop Bullock's Installation as Bishop of Madison, St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison Tuesday, June 18, 2002 5:30 p.m. -- Attend Apostolate to the Handicapped Board of Directors Meeting, New Glarus Hotel, New Glarus Thursday, June 20, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Concelebrate at 25th Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination, Most Reverend John F. Kinney, St. Cloud, Minnesota Friday, June 21, 2002 Concelebrate at 25th Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination of His Eminence, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C. Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Thursday, June 13-Saturday, June 15, 2002 Attend Spring Meeting, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Dallas, Texas Tuesday, June 18, 2002 5:30 p.m. -- Attend Apostolate to the Handicapped Board of Directors Meeting, New Glarus Hotel, New Glarus

Lord, look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church

		The Bishop: A Herald of Faith Bishop William H. Bullock

These past months have not been easy for all people of good will but especially for you, my fellow Catholics, as more and more revelations of sexual abuse of children and minors by priests and bishops are headlines in our press, and top of news stories on T.V. and radio.

What started, as a report of sexual abuse of children and minors by priests or bishops has turned toward their bishops in their out-of-court settlements and their silence.

Admit our error

There is little doubt about the scandal and its adverse affect first on victims, on priests, bishops and all Catholics. The relentlessness with which all is reported is both embarrassing and sickening. Reporting facts we never object to, but on the part of some there seems to be implications in reporting that sexual abuse is rampant among our priests. This is simply not so.

"It has been pointed out that attention to the victims has been a major neglect of bishops and, if so, I apologize to any victim of sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Madison, whether it came in my time or in the time of my predecessors, Bishop Cletus O'Donnell and Bishop William O'Connor."

Obviously decisions were made by bishops that we see now were mistakes, however well intentioned they may have been. It may well have permitted further victimization or even failed to offer sufficient protection against new victims.

No one can discount the scandal, and that kind of behavior, on the part of any priest or bishop, and it must cease.

If what is termed "zero tolerance" is a genuine deterrent, then so be it. But a uniform policy of effective protection must be forthcoming from the U.S. Bishops at their meeting in Dallas, Texas, on June 13-15, in which both Bishop George Wirz and I will participate.

Church teaching clear

The teachings of the Church are crystal clear regarding sexual morality. Unfortunately some of the violations of those teachings by priests and bishops are also clear with what our Holy Father Pope John Paul II describes, "is not only a sin, but a crime (if committed by an adult with a child or teenager)."

The Holy Father's words are equally clear with regard to the future action to be taken, "There is no room in the priesthood for those who would harm the young."

You, who constitute regular readership of my weekly column, know of our "Sexual Abuse Policy" for the Diocese of Madison, established and published July 7, 1993. We follow that policy and will extend its provisions to whatever the U.S. Bishops decide in Dallas, Texas.

I invite all to pray

I write this, my weekly column, to all Catholics and any other persons of good will asking that you join me in prayer that as Bishops, the Shepherds and Successors of the Apostles, we will openly discuss, debate and decide and thus act to eradicate the possibility of any further sin and crime against any child or minor.

As moral leaders we, too, are sinners. We are in the proverbial sense "vessels of clay," easily broken and subject to sin, but we must continue as Church to teach clearly, observe clearly, and love the Church dearly. Christ would have it so.

Your prayers and support for all of us U.S. Bishops this week is the spiritual undergirding so necessary for us. We need your prayer and you need our plans and policy to eliminate any abuse from happening again.

Victims and their needs

It has been pointed out that attention to the victims has been a major neglect of bishops and, if so, I apologize to any victim of sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Madison, whether it came in my time or in the time of my predecessors, Bishop Cletus O'Donnell and Bishop William O'Connor.

I salute our priests

I also wish to say, as I conclude my column, that I salute the vast majority of priests who live chaste lives and who, because of a few, must rest in the shade, shadow or darkness because of the sins of a few. But Jesus reminds us that we are to bear the burdens of one another, make up for the sufferings that are wanting in Christ.

The Church will survive and ultimately thrive not because we got our act together to the satisfaction of the media, but because God has assured us that we will prevail in Him and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against us.

Do penance and pray

During this week of our meeting in Dallas, I ask you to fast, do penance, pray, go to Mass and beseech God to heal the victims of sexual abuse, and to strengthen us to stand in our own truth as moral leaders, condemn what is false and faulty, and continue to be a sound voice of clear teaching. In our modern day we seem to have lost our sense of sin and lots of healing and hard work lies ahead to heal victims, their families, and our wounded Church.

What is fair?

I must also say that false allegations brought against a priest or bishop have been proven in some instances to be false. It is difficult when the names of the priest offenders are not made public, but it is also difficult when the victim wishes to publicly allege sexual abuse but wishes his or her name withheld. It appears in either case the victim or the priest is treated unfairly.

It is a complex matter, but complicated or not, we as Church are committed to correct among our bishops and priests any sexual abuse.

And when, in the next several years these matters have been addressed, I trust in our common love for children we will find means to address their care in family life, where I am told 75 percent of such sexual abuse takes place.

Prayer and policies

Prayer and penance are our primary ways in which to correct, rectify, and heal victims and their families along with solid policies and their implementation. We ask God to look not on our sins, but on the faith of his Church - we are a Church of sinners, but also saints - let's look to the great saints whose holiness is held high for all to see - women and men in our time, the Mother Teresas, the Oscar Romeros, great holy people of service to the poor and victims of poverty. All the saints of God model for us. They invite us to begin living our faith, following Christ's call to holiness.

There are good and great programs and efforts being made and going on in the Church and while we will never hide behind our excuses for past sexual abuse, we also wish to raise our heads high as Church to boast of the grace of God, his favor to our priests and people for their truly holy example of Christian goodness.

Our focus in Dallas is prayer and repair, to heal and seek forgiveness, but also to turn to the power of God whose power is so great that he can and does bring a greater good out of evil.

Salute to Bishop George O. Wirz

By Bishop William H. Bullock   (en Español)
CATHOLIC HERALD PUBLISHER

It is my privilege to write a tribute to my fellow bishop, George Wirz, our Auxiliary Bishop to the Diocese of Madison since his appointment on December 7, 1977.

Bishop Wirz, as you can readily see in the special coverage of this edition of The Catholic Herald, celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest at St. Raphael Cathedral where he was ordained a priest on May 31, 1952 by Bishop William O'Connor and ordained a bishop on March 9, 1978 by Bishop Cletus O'Donnell in the presence of Archbishop Cousins.

His years of service have been marked with real distinction. He excelled in study, he was Secretary to the Bishop, Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, founding Rector of Holy Name Seminary in 1963, and later pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Madison, and St. Patrick Parish, Madison. He participated in Vatican Council II with Bishop O'Connor as his secretary. He was in the counsel of all the Bishops of Madison and has had significant roles in the continuing education of our priests, their annual assembly, retreats, and days of sanctification, not to mention sabbaticals for priests.

In his years he has celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation for over 27,000 young people and has been close to seminarians in his days as Rector and following.

He is well known throughout the Diocese of Madison for his goodness, kindness, and generosity.

It has been my good fortune to have an auxiliary bishop here in Madison offering counsel and sharing in the apostolate of Bishop.

His celebration of Mass, reception, and dinner made it a memorable day not only for him but also for all of us who are his colleagues and brothers and sisters.

I pay special tribute to him on his day, and I also salute his ever-faithful secretary and administrative assistant, Mary Jo (Mrs. Thomas) Moran, the Jubilee Committee: Monsignor Paul Swain, Monsignor Michael Hippee, Monsignor Daniel Ganshert, Kate Wiskus, Greg Keller, Denise Gorman, Pat Gorman, Bill Brophy, and Father John Stillmank. All deserve special thanks for their hard work and endless hours of planning and service.

Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II honored Bishop Wirz with personal greetings on his golden Jubilee celebration.

Below is a translation from the Latin:

To our venerable brother
George Otto Wirz
Titular bishop of Municipa
Who gives thanks to the Lord
For the gift of priesthood for fifty years --
We express our congratulations
On your fruitful pastoral ministry.
In particular, we single out your zeal
In the formation of students for the priesthood.
Accordingly, with prayers and best wishes
We gladly bestow our Apostolic Blessing
On you and all of your family and close co-workers.
Given at the Vatican, May 8, 2002
(signed) John Paul II

Official Appointments:

Most Reverend William H. Bullock, Bishop of Madison, wishes to announce the following appointments:

Rev. Nicholas Okere, to the Diocesan Board of Education, for a term ending June 30, 2005.

Mr. Lee E. Donar, Hazel Green, to the Diocesan Board of Education, for a term ending August 31, 2005.

Mrs. Peg Jones, Lancaster, to the Diocesan Board of Education, for a term ending August 31, 2005.

Mrs. Jane Toon, to the Camp Gray Board of Directors, for a term ending June 30, 2005.

Rev. Monte Robinson, as Faithful Friar, Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree, Monsignor Francis X. Gray Assembly #2424, for a term ending June 30, 2003.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General