Some Survivors Critical Of Milwaukee Archdiocese Settlement Plan

Some clergy abuse victims are not happy about a tentative settlement in the bankruptcy case involving the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese.

The church and a creditors committee have agreed on a $21 million payment by the archdiocese that would include money for more than 300 abuse survivors. But Monica Barrett, who was molested by a priest when she was 8 years old, said Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki has spent more money battling abuse victims.

“He made it clear from the beginning that he would prefer to spend money on lawyers fighting all these abuse claims rather than to afford survivors any kind of healing or any kind of settlement with dignity,” Barrett said.

Barrett is one of about 250 abuse victims dismissed from the bankruptcy case during its four-plus years before a Milwaukee bankruptcy judge. That federal jurist, Susan Kelley, will review the tentative settlement later this year.

The Milwaukee Archdiocese says it now wants to focus on its spiritual, charitable and educational missions.