Sklba calls for accountability,
truth, compassion as church heals

BISHOP NAMED ADMINISTRATOR -- Bishop Richard J. Sklba addresses archdiocesan employees at the Cousins Center chapel during a prayer service held May 24, one day after Paul Marcoux publicly accused former Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland of trying to sexually assault him in 1979. Sklba was elected archdiocesan administrator last Friday. (Photo by Sam Lucero)

MILWAUKEE -- Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba, who was elected administrator of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Friday evening, May 24, said the primary challenge for Catholics in the archdiocese is to experience "a sense of healing" following news of former Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland's relationship with another man and a $450,000 settlement to keep it private.

In an interview with the Catholic Herald May 25 -- two days after Paul Marcoux told Brian Ross on ABC TV's Good Morning America that Weakland tried to sexually assault him in 1979 -- Sklba discussed his knowledge of Marcoux and the 1998 settlement between the archdiocese and Marcoux, how the settlement impacted the archdiocese's operating budget, the future of the archdiocese, and his conversations with Weakland since news of the Marcoux incident broke.

Asked what he would say to Catholics who feel betrayed by Weakland, Sklba said his words of comfort are best articulated in his Herald of Hope column this week.

"I spent a lot of hours Thursday night in prayer, sorting out and trying to figure out what I would say, and that (Herald of Hope) seemed like the best way to say what I thought needed to be said," he stated.

Sklba stressed the need for accountability, truth and compassion as part of the archdiocese's healing process.

"Pastorally, how do we heal ourselves and each other as a family of faith, that's the primary concern," he said. "In that context, care for the questions that people are raising and in such a way that truth and compassion are both lifted up, as we must do, in the light of the Gospel. Accountability, truth, compassion have to be molded together in response to those needs. So that means information. Clear information."

Sklba said the $450,000 settlement paid to Marcoux in 1998 did not affect the archdiocese's operating budget that year. "Certainly not. I see the budget every year ... because I'm part of the cabinet that works through what the resources are each year."

He added he has not seen "any sign of negative impact" on the archdiocese's operating budget in past years due to clergy sex abuse settlements.

Asked what he would tell Catholics who are considering withholding church donations because of the six-figure settlement, Sklba explained that he broached this topic in letters to stewardship appeal donors who were concerned about their donations going to the payment of sex abuse lawsuits.

"I responded by saying that it is important, number one, that we continue to be generous people to the needs of the world in which we live," he said. "Number two, I think both parish and archdiocese serve many of those needs. I would encourage people to assess that process. If for some reason or other they want to redirect their generosity to some other cause at this point, well, make sure you stay generous."

Sklba said the first time he heard Paul Marcoux's name was around 1997 when he was invited to participate in the final discussions of the legal agreement. "I never met him, never saw him, never had any indirect or direct contact with him personally."

Asked about his reaction to the allegations by Marcoux after first learning about them, and whether he would characterize Weakland as a victim, Sklba would only say that Weakland's May 23 statement in response to the allegations "has to stand on its own."

He also said he was not aware of any other sexual abuse settlements against Weakland, and that Weakland never spoke to him about his relationship with Marcoux.

As part of the 1998 settlement, Marcoux agreed to remain silent on the issue. Asked if he feared the confidentiality clause would ever be broken, Sklba said this issue "has not been a consideration for me. Did it ever occur to me, I don't know. Any settlement that is made with people is usually with a request of confidentiality to bring closure to things so I presumed that this would fall under the same category."

Sklba said the response of archdiocesan priests to the news of Weakland and Marcoux "has been, like my own: sadness, confusion, surprise, and a great deal of pastoral care for the archbishop and for the people."

Sklba said he has not been given any indication as to when or who Pope John Paul II will appoint as the new archbishop.

"My presumption would be that it would be done carefully, and that it would be done more speedily than some of the vacancies that have occurred in the country over the past few years," he said, adding that the names of possible replacements are ones he hears "in the corridors and ... in the morning paper. But they always say the ones who know don't talk and the ones who talk don't know, so keep that in mind."

Sklba offered a list of qualities the next archbishop should possess.

"We need someone who understands the role of good parish liturgy and its impact on the lives of people," he said. "We need someone who is intelligent and continues to be able to look at the world in which we live and speak to it. We need a healer, and we need someone who can address the needs of both laity and clergy so the work of the church can continue."