Protecting Children

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is committed to maintaining safe environments in all its parishes, schools, and other institutions so that all persons, especially children, will be protected from harm including physical and sexual abuse. The archdiocese has trained more than 100,000 priests, staff and volunteers in its Safe Environment abuse prevention program.

All clergy, personnel, and anyone volunteering with minors must:

• Receive training in recognizing and reporting child abuse.
   
• Undergo a criminal background check every 5 years.
   
• Review and abide by a Code of Ethical Standards
   
• Review and understand the Mandatory Reporting Requirements in the State of Wisconsin.

All students in Catholic programs receive age-appropriate education in recognizing, resisting, and reporting sexual abuse.

• Safe Environment Training - Learn more or register
• Survivor Assistance - Reach out to us
• Code of Ethics - For every employee and volunteer
• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People | USCCB
• Promise to Protect Pledge to Heal | Policies, Procedures, and Protocols for Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors: Prevention and Response

Report Abuse

Information to report suspected child abuse to local law enforcement in the Southeastern Wisconsin.
 

Report Misconduct

Report financial and auditing concerns, harassment, theft, substance abuse and unsafe conditions.
 

Clergy Disclosure List

The names of diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee who are restricted from all priestly ministries.

Audits | USCCB

The 2024 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People  produced by the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection (SCYP) in 2024, describes the progress of Catholic dioceses/eparchies in implementing victim assistance and child protection policies and programs in the United States, particularly those found within the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. 

Research | USCCB

Follow the Research link for a list of reports and studies that have been commissioned or written by the National Review Board, the Bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, or the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection.
 

Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service

This service is in place to gather and relay reports of sexual misconduct involving bishops of the United States, and reports of their intentional interference in a sexual abuse investigation. If you wish to report any other kind of misconduct by a bishop—or sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, religious brother or sister, or layperson working for the Church—please contact your local diocese or eparchy directly instead.

Archdiocesan Review Board

In January, 2003, Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan appointed the diocesan review board that will oversee the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's response to sexual abuse. The Essential Norms for Diocesan Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, approved by the Vatican in December 2002, requires each diocesan bishop to appoint a review board, which will function as a consultative body to the bishop.

The members of the archdiocesan review board are:

Christine Gabron, Chair, Special Prosecutor, Kenosha County

Monsignor Ross Shecterle, pastor, Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Dr. Charles M. Lodl, Ph.D., clinical psychologist in private practice

Deacon Stanley Lowe, Permanent Deacon; civil attorney

Ellen Bartel, Catholic High School President (Retired)

Updated: July, 2023

Training protects

100,000+ trained in abuse prevention

Prevention works

12+ years with no substantiated allegation of abuse of a minor by a living diocesan priest

Zero tolerance policy

No clergy with a substantiated complaint are in ministry