Why aren’t priests who have sexually abused children in jail?
The archdiocese would fully cooperate with law enforcement officials if they moved to put a know abuser in jail. In fact, in 2003, the files on all diocesan priests with allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were reviewed with the Milwaukee County District Attorney to determine if any criminal charges could be brought. Although there has been much talk about opening a legislative window allowing victims/survivors to file civil lawsuits and collect financial damages, efforts aimed at opening a window that would allow the criminal charges to go forward have failed. In both cases, under Wisconsin law, the re-opening of passed statutes of limitation has been ruled to be unconstitutional.
