Questions for the Archdiocese - What Matters Most to YOU?

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In December 2019, Awake submitted to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee a list of 35 questions about our local response to the abuse crisis. (For more about this process, please see our blog post here: https://awakemilwaukee.org/2020/01/14/awake-asks-how-is-the-archdiocese-of-milwaukee-responding-to-the-abuse-crisis.)

Now, we'd like to hear from you! Which questions from this list matter most to you? What other questions do you have? We will collect this feedback and submit to the Archdiocese for consideration as they create an updated FAQ document for the Archdiocesan website. (Your name will not be shared with the Archdiocese.)

Thank you for your input! Please feel free to pass this survey along to other Catholics in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact us at awakemke@gmail.com.

Email *

Are you a Catholic living in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee? (If not, you are welcome to complete this form to share with the Awake team, but your votes will not be included in the feedback submitted to the Archdiocese.) *

Yes

First Name *

Last Name *

Which questions would you ask the Archdiocese to prioritize answering? Please select 5-10 questions. *

What process is in place to collect feedback from those who have attended Safe Environment Education sessions?

What training is required for a person to be considered qualified to facilitate these Safe Environment Education sessions? Is there any ongoing supervision or formation of these facilitators?

Does the current Safe Environment Education curriculum include information about abuse of adults?

What provisions are made for survivors of abuse who wish to volunteer in the Catholic Church but might be triggered by the content of these Safe Environment sessions?

What is the status of the Archdiocese’s exploration of options for updating and improving this training?

What are the rules for background checks and Safe Environment training at Catholic institutions for which the Archdiocese is not directly responsible, e.g. Catholic universities, retreat centers, etc.?

What is the Archdiocesan process for ensuring that priests brought in from outside of the United States have no history of credible abuse allegations? What review and formation is done to ensure they have healthy psychosocial behavior? How are they acclimated to the legal and cultural norms of our country?

How is the Archdiocese implementing the requirements of Pope Francis’s motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi? How is this implementation being communicated to the public?

What is the defined purpose of the Community Advisory Board?

How often does this board meet? Who attends these meetings, beyond the board members themselves?

How and by whom are members selected?

What are the goals or projects they are currently working on?

Is the Archdiocese open to creating more transparency about the work of this board by sharing meeting agendas and minutes?

What are the processes in place to receive and respond to complaints about grooming behavior that has not escalated to the level of abuse?

Has the Archdiocese considered implementing additional options for reporting abuse, such as an email address or an online form?

When the Archdiocese receives allegations of abuse, does the Archdiocese have experts investigate all electronic devices accessible to the alleged abuser for improper uses? Does the Archdiocese provide full access to all electronic devices to civil authorities for their investigations?

What are the Archdiocese’s policies and procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to claims of sexual harassment, abuse, or misconduct with adults by clergy or other church employees or volunteers ? Are those who are victimized as adults entitled to the same investigative process and pastoral care as those who were abused as children?

What are the Archdiocesan policies about what behavior by a cleric toward an adult would be considered sexually abusive? Does Archdiocesan policy consider any sexual relationship between a cleric and a parishioner or someone seeking spiritual advice abusive? How are these policies communicated to clerics, church employees, volunteers, and other parishioners?

What are the requirements for religious orders to be permitted to operate in the Archdiocese? Do these requirements include the submission of a list of members who served in the Archdiocese and have been found credibly accused by their religious order? Will these names be added to the Archdiocesan website?

Has the Archdiocese of Milwaukee ever conducted a thorough investigation of the files of all deacons for allegations of abuse of minors or adults? Would names of abusive deacons be listed on the Archdiocesan website along with those of priests?

What is the monitoring system for priests who are restricted from ministry because of credible allegations of sexual abuse?

What ongoing financial support do these restricted priests receive from the Archdiocese? What is the source of those funds?

What ongoing support does the Archdiocese currently offer to survivors of clergy sexual abuse?

What is the status of the $500,000 therapy fund created for abuse survivors as part of the bankruptcy settlement? Have those funds been spent?

Does the Archdiocese require that therapy funded by the Archdiocese take place with particular approved therapists, or are survivors free to obtain their own therapist and follow their therapist’s recommendations for an appropriate treatment plan?

Does the Archdiocese require any type of report from therapists to whom the Archdiocese has provided payment?

Does the Archdiocese support Wisconsin Senate Bill 381, which would eliminate the civil statute of limitations in the state of Wisconsin and open a 3-year revival window for claims against perpetrators, government, and private organizations, including Catholic dioceses? Has the Wisconsin Catholic Conference been involved in any lobbying for or against this bill?

Does the Archdiocese support an Attorney General investigation into clergy sexual abuse and the handling of that abuse in the state of Wisconsin?

What support does the Archdiocese offer to family members who have been harmed by the abuse of their loved ones? Is Archbishop Listecki open to meeting with not only clergy abuse survivors but also their family members?

What changes have been made to vetting processes and formation programs for seminarians in response to the issue of clergy sexual abuse?

What are the continuing education requirements for clergy related to this issue?

What formation are clergy, seminarians, and lay ministers given for understanding the long-term effects of trauma and best practices for trauma-informed pastoral care?

Will survivors of clergy abuse be part of the process of choosing the new Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Archdiocese?

What support does the Archdiocese offer to parishes, schools, or other Catholic organizations that want to address the abuse crisis but are not sure how to proceed?

In September 2018, Archbishop Listecki called for Catholics who are concerned about this issue to stay and “lead within the Church.” What are some clear avenues for responding to this invitation to shared leadership? If a person, parish, or Catholic organization is interested in helping our Archbishop address this issue in our Church, what is the process to get involved and what work could they engage in?

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If you have additional questions you would like to ask the Archdiocese regarding our local response to the abuse crisis, please enter them here.

Do you have any other questions, comments, or feedback for Awake?

A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.

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