According to Kathleen Hohl, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, they reached an agreement Friday after a two-day mediation. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the 10 victims and a third party negotiated the settlement.,”The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has agreed to pay $16.65 million in restitution to 10 victims of sexual abuse.

According to Kathleen Hohl, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, they reached an agreement Friday after a two-day mediation. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the 10 victims and a third party negotiated the settlement.

The archdiocese is paying victims in California because the priests who committed the abuse in California came from the Milwaukee archdiocese.

Siegfried Widera was convicted of sexually abusing children as a Milwaukee priest in 1973, then sent to California three years later. Nine of the 10 victims sought restitution for Widera's abuse there. Franklyn Becker served as a priest in Milwaukee where he was accused of sexual abuse. He then went to California where in 1977 and 1978, he allegedly committed sexual abuse.

The archdiocese will pay the $8.25 million not covered by its insurance by selling the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center in Milwaukee, a move that was already planned, according to Hohl.

"The Archdiocese announced in April that the Cousins Center would be sold," Hohl said. "Now the proceeds are going to the financial obligation we have in California."

A unique situation exists in California, because legislators opened the window for sexual abuse victims by temporarily revoking the statute of limitations for one year in 2002. This allowed past victims to come forward in search of restitution.

Wisconsin has created a legal situation protecting clergy where victims cannot file civil lawsuits against a religious organization, according to Peter Isley, the Midwest director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

"The principle tool for victims to find accountability is taken away in Wisconsin," Isley said.

Isley said Dolan has not addressed the needs of his people in Wisconsin, but sent money to California instead.

The archdiocese needs to release information about who and where the sex offenders are, he said.

According to Hohl, the Information with Regard to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People section on the archdiocese's Web site lists all priests who are restricted from all priestly ministry. There are 43 priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee who have been restricted. Fifteen are deceased, 18 have been fully restricted and seven have been laicized, among others.

Hohl said many programs have started to stop all abuse by priests.

In 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops initiated the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which removes all priests with a substantiated report of abuse against a minor from ministry.

The archdiocese has an independent mediation system that has been developed by Eva Soeka of Marquette's Center for Dispute Resolution for cases in which the archdiocese's system is not used. It was created because there was a need for a respected third party in the mediation process, according to the archdiocese's Web site.

The Rev. Steven Avella, professor of history, said he is saddened by the whole situation.

"It has caused the Catholic Church profound embarrassment and sadness that it has to be resolved this way," Avella said. "Above all, I feel real sorrow for the people who were abused because it is a terrible abuse of confidence for a priest to act in that way.My service and commitment to the church goes on, however."

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