Bishops' Schedules: Schedule of Bishop William H. Bullock 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. Saturday, June 22, 2002 5:30 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Annual North Central Regional Meeting, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center Sunday, June 23, 2002 9:30 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Installation of Reverend Nicholas Okere as Administrator of Holy Redeemer Parish, Madison 5:00 p.m. -- Participate and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, 25th Anniversary of Ordination of Reverend Monsignor James L. Gunn, St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Host Wisconsin Catholic Conference Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, June 27, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Preside at Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Schedule of Bishop George O. Wirz Saturday, June 22, 2002 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Installation of Reverend Robert W. Hughes as Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills, linked with St. Mary Parish, Johnson Creek, at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Lake Mills Sunday, June 23, 2002 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Celebration of the Eucharist, Installation of Reverend Casimir Chimeziri as Administrator of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Brodhead, linked with St. Patrick Parish, Albany, at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Brodhead 5:00 p.m. -- Attend Celebration of the Eucharist, 25th Anniversary of Ordination of Reverend Monsignor James L. Gunn, St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:00 a.m. -- Attend Wisconsin Catholic Conference Board Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, June 27, 2002 3:00 p.m. -- Attend Midday Prayer for Vocations, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Bishops in Dallas

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

"There is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young," said Pope John Paul II to the American Cardinals in Rome on April 23, 2002, and thus to us, his brother Bishops.

This statement began the formulation of a charter and eventually norms which guide and bind all bishops in the U.S. It is aimed at preventing any further sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons, and Church personnel.

"Sexual abuse of a minor is not only a sin, it is a crime," said Pope John Paul II in that same setting to the U.S. Cardinals gathered in Rome and thus to all of us Bishops.

"All people stand before God sinful and sorrowful, confessing both what we have done and what we have failed to do. May we always look meekly and humbly through our tears of sorrow to a God of mercy, compassion, and healing. August 14, 2002, will be a Catholic National Day of Prayer for reparation and reconciliation. The U.S. Bishops will also fast on this day."

Moving testimonies

We U.S. Bishops listened carefully and attentively to the stories of the victims at our June meeting in Dallas, Texas. The body of bishops rose to its feet after each testimony of a victim in sustained applause. We heard their stories and their pain; they moved and sensitized us deeply. We are resolved to do everything within our power, authority and influence as religious leaders to enact guidelines and norms that will prevent any priest from ever repeating any sexual abuse of a child, and to restore trust and thus credibility which has been eroded these past several months.

Bishops' agreement

There is agreement on the national level with all U.S. Bishops by vote to accept the charter and proposed norms (the latter requires acceptance by the Holy See - or the Latin "recognitio"). While the vote may have been 239-13 of all voting Bishops, all Bishops who are heads of dioceses are committed to the binding force of that charter titled Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Bishops' implementation

Building on the agreement on the national level of all U.S. Bishops is the second phase - all Bishops are bound by this agreement and are to proceed with its immediate implementation. Each diocese is to find ways in handling all sexual abuse cases of minors by priests and deacons that conform in all areas of the charter and norms.

Call for acceptance

The third level, following agreement and implementation, obviously rests with acceptance of the persons involved in the case-by-case basis. By that I mean in the past the priest offender and/or the victim of sexual abuse bound themselves, as did insurance companies and the diocese, to silence about these matters. In the future there will never be any such agreements.

As wrong as these secret settlements may have been and for whatever reasons, it is difficult to unlock them, that is open them to public scrutiny, yet we are bound to try to unlock the dilemmas.

Priests and victims

To be bound not to release the name of a priest in a settlement is indeed difficult but equally so is the person who has an allegation against a priest but will not release his or her own name to the public. But a provision of the U.S. Bishops' agreement is to cooperate with aspects of civil law by federal or by state.

Some persons abused by a priest indicate that they are not going to release or allow their names to be used in any public forum. They claim in some instances to seem to say, "I am happily married. I don't wish to drag my spouse and my children through a public forum, invading my family, personal, and professional life."

In those cases every effort must be made to unlock the dilemmas in order that there can be fair, just, and open discussion and thus every attempt made to resolve the matter.

As Bishop of Madison, I am committed to follow every step necessary for reconciliation, assistance to the victims, and treatment for the priests as outlined in the charter titled Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Finally, I ask your prayers. Please accept my honest religious leadership in the implementation phase as we work to find acceptable ways to ensure that all children are protected against sexual abuse by priests, deacons or Church personnel.

Review board

We are beginning our search of developing practical ways to establish a diocesan review board of persons, a majority of which will be lay people, who can research our cases and guide our decisions.

The U.S. Bishops have appointed an "oversight committee" on the national level to guide each diocese. We will offer them our plan and submit our implementation phase by phase.

Reinforce our many good priests

Finally too, I wish to say that we must always look to the vast majority of good priests in our diocese and in the U.S. and larger Church who truly live heroic, good, and holy lives. Keep them in your prayers along with those falsely accused who bear immense pain. But also, and most importantly, pray for those children and victims of priest molestation; never ever leave them out of your prayers.

Admit our sins and pray

All people stand before God sinful and sorrowful, confessing both what we have done and what we have failed to do. May we always look meekly and humbly through our tears of sorrow to a God of mercy, compassion, and healing. August 14, 2002, will be a Catholic National Day of Prayer for reparation and reconciliation. The U.S. Bishops will also fast on this day.

Pray for all of us! I am committed in the time that is mine as your Bishop, to work diligently and as swiftly as possible, to implement the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Clergy or other Church Personnel.

What can you do? 1) Read the full documents of the charter and norms. 2) Pray for victims and all who are involved.

Official Appointments:

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

Reverend Monsignor Daniel T. Ganshert, to Chancellor, effective June 12, 2002.

Reverend John G. Stillmank, member, Corporate Board of the Diocese of Madison, effective June 12, 2002.

Mr. Gregory J. Keller, Chief Financial Officer, member, Corporate Board of the Diocese of Madison, effective June 12, 2002.

Reverend Daniel T. Volkert to full-time Pastor, St. Mary of Pine Bluff Parish, Cross Plains.

Msgr. Paul J. Swain
Vicar General