Archbishop Listecki Speaks To 12 News About Controversies

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He Weighs In On Lawsuits And Marquette’s Dean Decision 

WISN 12 News 

POSTED: 3:12 pm CDT May 18, 2010 

UPDATED: 8:52 pm CDT May 18, 2010 

MILWAUKEE —  

Archbishop Jerome Listeck spoke exclusively to 12 News on Tuesday about some ongoing controversial issues.

Listecki discussed a lawsuit filed in Kentucky where victims of clergy abuse allege that the Vatican covered up similar cases for decades throughout the United States.

Lawsuits are holding the Vatican responsible for the U.S. bishops who failed to stop some priests from abusing children.

Listecki said he believes that when it comes to legal matters within a diocese, responsibility stops with the bishop.

“In canon law, the responsibility always falls on the shoulders of the bishops,” Listecki said.

Listecki said he thinks the Vatican is trying to distance itself from the actions of the bishops and trying to explain church law.

“As individuals try to make the chain and try to go up and lay a larger and larger responsibility, you have to take a look at what procedures govern the church, and I think the Vatican was just pointing that out to people, a type of education,” Listecki said.

The archbishop also spoke with 12 News about the recent controversy involving Marquette University’s withdrawal of a contract offer to a dean who is a lesbian.

“I’m happy that Father Wild looks at the mission and Catholic identity and holds that important in the vision of Marquette,” Listecki said.

He also dismissed criticism from some at the university who said the archbishop should not have weighed in on matters at the school.

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