Judge Says No Safety Concern in Archdiocese of Milwaukee

On Feb. 29, 2012 U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan V. Kelley heard arguments on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s motion to clarify the confidentiality orders that she previously entered in this case so that the archdiocese could provide general statistical information regarding the claims that have been filed in the bankruptcy proceeding. Judge Kelley denied the motion as unnecessary. Judge Kelley acknowledged the archdiocese's efforts to protect the abuse survivors, adding that the court also wanted to protect any persons accused of abuse that had not been substantiated.

Judge Kelley stated that she had examined every single proof of claim form that had been filed in the case and issued a Summary of Disposition in which she described her ruling as follows:

"The court gave assurances that after a review of each and every claim, no public safety concerns are raised by the proofs of claim filed by the abuse claimants.  The vast majority of the claims allege abuse that occurred in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's.  For the most part, the alleged abusers named in the claims are those previously identified by the Debtor as having substantiated abuse claims made against them.  Many of those individuals are deceased; the others have been removed from priestly ministry.  Accordingly, because no public safety concern is present, and the cost and time involved in compiling an agreed-upon statistical analysis could be prohibitive, and lead to the release of confidential information contained in the claims, the Court denied the Debtor's Motion."

Judge Kelley also reminded the parties and counsel that this Chapter 11 proceeding primarily deals with financial matters and that it was not to be used "to embarrass or humiliate people or to bring up matters from the 1950's." Judge Kelley concluded the hearing by saying "the implication was taken outside and given to the press that there’s a public safety crisis; those were the words that were used, and I want to assure everyone: I have read every claim, there is no such crisis."