Groups Call for Escalation of Wisconsin Clergy Abuse Crimes Investigation

Multiple groups are calling for Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to escalate an investigation into a series of clergy sex abuse cases that began over one year ago. At least one advocacy group says Kaul and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) have quietly downgraded the investigation.

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which says it advocates for separation of church and state, sent a letter to Kaul requesting he increase resources to uncover allegations in the investigation.

“In April 2021, you announced that the state Department of Justice (DOJ) would launch an investigation into abuse by clergy members and other faith-based community leaders in Wisconsin,” the letter stated. “Nearly a year later, the investigation was reportedly downgraded to a ‘review,’ stripping officials of critical legal resources necessary to conduct a thorough investigation.”

Last year, Kaul launched a statewide independent review of reported abuse by clergy and leaders of faith organizations. By April 2021, Kaul said officials received 204 reports. One case led to criminal charges.

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One survivor advocacy group, Nate’s Mission, is named after the late Wisconsin clergy abuse survivor Nate Lindstrom. On its website, Nate’s Mission accused Kaul of “changing his language,” and claimed the downgrade stripped legal resources for survivors.

The foundation referred to an email where a Victim Service Specialist tells a survivor, “investigating is too strong of a word” and that “the reality is $$$.”

The article also said the DOJ complied with church attorneys’ demand to release whistleblower documents containing evidence of criminal conduct and failed to challenge noncompliance from the church.

“When the Milwaukee Archdiocese publicly refused to cooperate with the DOJ by turning over abuse documents, Kaul’s office declined to challenge them, citing their “aggressive attorneys” and the “politically-charged Supreme Court in the state,” the article read.

Last month, the Catholic Diocese of Superior listed 23 names with credible claims of sexually abusing minors made against them.

“Given these revelations self-reported by the Superior Diocese, we believe that re-opening an independent investigation would potentially unearth more clergy abuse that has harmed so many, and is in order,” the FFRF letter stated.

“We are saying that they should use every resource at their disposal to investigate these claims of abuse in the state of Wisconsin,” the letter continued. “Because, otherwise, they’ll be covered up.”

The DOJ advertises a list of articles on its website that refer to developments in the investigation. The last update is over a year old.

However, Kaul recently told Wisconsin Public Radio the state had not downgraded its investigation. He said there are no changes to the state’s resources dedicated to or approach to its review.

Kaul said the process was continuing. He cited two cases where the information they received led to charging abusers.

The DOJ intends to release a report of its findings once the statewide review is complete.