Metro

Dolan welcomes release of Milwaukee deposition documents

MILWAUKEE — New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he welcomes the upcoming release of documents related to sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Dolan gave a deposition in February in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving the archdiocese that he once served. That deposition is among some 3,000 pages of documents that the archdiocese announced on Wednesday that it would post by July 1.

The archdiocese had been fighting release of the documents, and faced a hearing Thursday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee. It declared bankruptcy two years ago as it dealt with about 500 sex abuse claims.

In a statement, Dolan said: “I am pleased with the decision of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to release more documents in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, including my February, 2013 deposition.

As I stated at the time of the deposition, I was grateful for the opportunity to go on-the-record with a full account of how the Archdiocese of Milwaukee responded to abuse survivors, and to answer any questions that I could. I stand ready to assist in any way that I can in the future. It is my hope that the release of these documents will also help in the healing process for abuse survivors, as well as their families and loved ones.

Archbishop Jerome Listecki has my sincere thanks and full support in this matter.”