Timothy Cardinal Dolan was grilled for three hours yesterday by lawyers for hundreds of people who said they were sexually abused by Milwaukee priests.
Dolan — who was archbishop of Milwaukee before coming to New York in 2009 — was “eager” to speak with the lawyers for 575 people who have filed claims alleging they were abused for decades by Catholic priests from Dolan’s former archdiocese.
“Today, Cardinal Dolan had the long-awaited opportunity to talk about his decision nine years ago in Milwaukee to publicize the names of priests who had abused children and how he responded to the tragedy of past clergy sexual abuse of minors,” his spokesman said.
“He has indicated over the past two years that he was eager to cooperate in whatever way he could, and he was looking forward to talking about the good work and progress that took place to ensure the protection of children.”
Dolan’s deposition, held in Manhattan, came a week before the popular cardinal is slated to head to Rome to participate in the conclave that will gather to choose a replacement for Pope Benedict XVI, who will retire Feb. 28.
Milwaukee is one of eight US dioceses to declare bankruptcy in the wake of abuse lawsuits.