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Harmful to the Many by the Sins of the Few!
Bishop John’s article in the February 14 edition of the diocesan newspaper leaves us shaking our heads. Here are some of his words from the article. Whenever he says domestic violence, let’s quite appropriately include sexual abuse.
I was ordained a priest 33 years ago and a bishop 11 years ago. Sadly, over those years, I have too often met people who are victims of violence & sexual abuse. Although the advancement of digital technologies may offer many possibilities for promoting human dignity, it also increasingly tends toward the creation of a world in which exploitation, exclusion, and violence grow, extending even to the point of harming the dignity of the human person. Consider, for example, how easy it is through these means to endanger a person’s good name with fake news and slander. Domestic violence and all forms of violence need to stop. Let us pray for the healing of all those who have been harmed.
Catholic Whistleblowers announced that in November, 2010, Rev. John Doerfler–––currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, MI–––was Chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, when he admitted in a sworn deposition that he was a part of the Diocese of Green Bay’s actions that destroyed clergy records beginning in 2007. The case in which he was deposed involved a Las Vegas, Nevada, lawsuit involving a Green Bay diocesan priest who was accused of the sexual abuse of two minor males.
Bishop Doerfler’s admission that he was one of the 2007 decisions makers who authorized the destruction of vital clergy records does not lend credibility to his truly caring about the need to stop all forms of domestic violence. His admission of participation in such destruction of records certainly does not convey that he cares about victims.
What he does appear to care about, as is visible in many of his decisions and actions both in the past and in the present, is money. By helping the Diocese of Green Bay destroy clergy records, victims had no proof of the priests having been called out on allegations. Therefore, the victims could not sue the diocese, and this saved the diocese millions of dollars. His reward? He was elevated to a Bishop.
If you want more information on this subject google Fr. John Doerfler and all of the information will come up. When he became our bishop, some of us talked to people in the Green Bay Diocese about Bishop Doerfler. They did not express delight that a worthy clergyman had been promoted. Instead, they were glad to see him go and wished us good luck, several while rolling their eyes. The real sad news here is, we are stuck with him.
*Our Diocese is $250,000 over budget.
*Catholics attending our churches are way down.
*Attendance of our young people in faith formation classes is significantly
down from youth participation levels before he became our bishop.
*Our diocese is experiencing a shortage of priests.
*The Stewardship & Development office in our diocese has seen a turnover
in Executive Director three times in the last two years.
The Diocese of Green Bay rewarded Father John Doerfler with a promotion to Bishop and quickly sent him here as our bishop in the Diocese of Marquette. In his tenure here in Marquette, he has earned no such accolades as were bestowed upon him for helping culpable priests in his former assignment in Green Bay. As painful as it is to our parishes, he’s not likely to be demoted nor to be moved as bishop to another diocese.
As we have expressed several times, we plead with all parishioners: Please do not send your money to the diocese. Please donate it to your parish with express notes stating where it is to be used within the parish and to support local agencies in need.
1Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
