Priest calling out church hierarchy on handling of sex abuse scandal

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Father James Connell, a Catholic priest, is calling out the church hierarchy on its handling of the child sex abuse scandal. This, after the Milwaukee Archdiocese in July released thousands of pages of documents detailing sex abuse cases -- some dating back decades.

In 2010, Father Connell rose to national prominence after publishing an open letter to Catholics that was sharply critical of the church's audit procedures, its standard for removing accused priests and cannon law.

Father Connell appeared at the Milwaukee Press Club to talk about his efforts, and FOX6's Mike Lowe asked him about the central question raised in that letter.

Mike Lowe: "You said, 'why is it so difficult for the leaders of the Catholic Church to do the right thing?' What's the answer?"

"Some would say part of it is, the leaders are hanging on to keeping this, we're in charge, we're the powers, top down, nobody's going to tell us. Another school of thought is maybe there are other moral issues buried that we don't want people to know about -- and if we start talking about other things, maybe other things will open up?" Father Connell said.

A Pandora's box of other problems, he says, from the faithfulness of priests, to the financial dealings.

"There's something under the lid," Father Connell said.

On July 1st, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee released 6,000 pages of documents relating to its handling of the abuse claims, but Father Connell says it's not enough.

"That's 6,000 out of 60,000 -- that's 10 percent released.  Where's the other 90 percent and why isn't it released?" Father Connell said.

Father Connell views it as his new ministry to stand with abuse survivors, and continue to blow the whistle on criminals wearing collars.

Mike Lowe: "To what extent is there a responsibility from the priests who have seen this kind of thing going on to bring it directly to the civil authorities, rather than kick it up to the hierarchy?"

"When I was a pastor in Sheybogan, I had occasion to do it three times -- pick up the phone and call the police and say I got something.  So that has to be done now.  It wasn't seen that way then. It should have been," Father Connell said.

As for concrete suggestions to change the priesthood, Father Connell says women in the priesthood and lifting the celibacy requirement would be good places to start. However, Father Connell says any changes would have to be made by the Pope himself.