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  Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Seek Action from Superior Diocese

By Linda Hanson
Duluth New Tribune [Wisconsin]
October 17, 2005

Two victims of clergy sex abuse visited the Catholic Diocese of Superior headquarters today to urge diocese officials to do more to help such victims.

Peter Isely, Midwest director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and Bob Schwiderski, a member of SNAP, held a press conference outside the diocese office, then went inside to deliver a letter to a diocese spokesman that spelled out several requests.

The visit was prompted by questions surrounding the diocese's handling of allegations against the Rev. Ryan Erickson.

Earlier this month Erickson was found by a judge to be the probable killer of Hudson, Wis., funeral home director Dan O'Connell, 39, and employee James Ellison, 22, in February 2002. A prosecutor said evidence suggested that O'Connell had found out Erickson was sexually abusing someone, was providing alcohol to minors or both.

Erickson, 31, committed suicide in December 2004 after being questioned by police for a second time about the killings. Erickson was serving a parish in Hurley, Wis.; he previously had served in Hudson, Wis., and Ladysmith, Wis.

Isely called O'Connell and Ellison heroes. "Because of these two men, dozens of children in this diocese won't have to suffer abuse from this priest," he said, referring to Erickson.

Isely urged Bishop Raphael Fliss to honor O'Connell and Ellison, apologize to the families of people victimized by Erickson and visit the parishes where Erickson served in order to speak to parishioners.

Isely said the Catholic Church still maintains an "impenetrable wall of silence" when it comes to pedophile priests and that victims still are fearful of coming forward to church officials.

If Fliss would aggressively reach out to people who have been victims of clergy sexual abuse, more people would be willing to come forward, he said.

The Rev. Philip Heslin, a spokesman for the diocese, said Fliss was trying to arrange a meeting this week with the families of the two slain men.

Heslin said the diocese is very concerned about clergy sexual abuse. "We are doing everything we can to make sure children are in a safe environment," he said, adding clergy and staff undergo background checks and receive training to recognize and report abuse.

A psychologist will meet in a closed session with priests in the diocese this week to talk about clergy sexual abuse, Heslin said.

Heslin called the recent case involving Erickson as "one of the worst things that has happened in this diocese."

Bishop Fliss was out of the office today and unavailable for comment. He turns 75 on Oct. 25 and is required to submit a letter of retirement to the pope. It usually takes a few weeks to find out whether the pope will ask the current bishop to continue in that position or begin the process of selecting a new bishop, which could take up to a year or longer, Heslin said.

If the pope decides to name a new bishop, Fliss likely would remain as the head of the diocese in the interim and have the title of apostolic administrator, Heslin said.

 
 

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