AG Kaul wrong to target Church
Why is Attorney General Josh Kaul chasing a “cold case” by reopening an investigation into church sexual misconduct and specifically targeting the Catholic Church?
This issue was fully addressed in Wisconsin courts many years ago.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee was forced to file bankruptcy in 2011. In the settlement, $21 million was paid to survivors, and $8 million went to nearly two dozen attorneys on top of $12 million already paid out, leaving the archdiocese $7 million in debt.
A $500,000 fund was established for victim therapy. Nearly all of the 48 accused clergy have passed away.
More importantly, many effective safeguards were proactively put in place by the Church to prevent future issues.
Policies now require that any new accusations or cases be promptly reported to legal authorities.
Kaul said the people of Wisconsin “deserve an independent review of clergy and faith leader abuse”. He claims he is “seeking to ensure that survivors . . . have access to needed victim services, to help prevent future cases . . . and to get accountability.”
Sorry, but given the legal vetting done many years ago and the prevention policies in place, his claims do not wash.
As taxpayers and faithful, we must insist that Kaul be more honest about his real agenda for attacking the Catholic Church. I see it at best a waste of tax dollars, and at worst a misguided and malicious witch hunt.
Mick Mullee
Madison
Inquiry needs more
Attorney General Josh Kaul’s recent announcement to conduct an inquiry into clergy and faith leaders’ abuse in Wisconsin for the purpose of allowing survivors of abuse to have access to victim services for healing and to bring about accountability is justified.
However, only half of the inquiry “equation” is addressed in Kaul’s initiative.
How do we bring about needing services for healing and accountability to clergy who have often been falsely accused of abuse as a result of an alleged victim seeking financial gain, public attention, revenge, or having some mental illness?
Seldom, if ever, are there references in the news of the countless stories of fraud.
David Pierre, Jr., creator of themediareport.com and author of several books regarding Catholic Church sex abuse cases, references with facts and evidence hundreds of cases of false accusations made against clergy by alleged victims with motives of personal gain.
I would encourage DA Kaul, in anticipation of his bid for re-election, to read Pierre’s findings. It might do us all well.
Mary Fritz
Madison