A Letter to Archbishop-elect Listecki

The Basilica of Saint Josaphat, Milwaukee

Your Excellency,

Congratulations on being chosen by the Holy Father to lead the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Since the news broke of your selection, many have been praying for you as you prepare for your new role on a much higher profile. Few bishops coming into a new archdiocese have faced the challenges you presently face, as you take up the Milwaukee mitre. At the same time, there are also unique opportunities before you, as you will soon hold the lever to set into motion the long-overdue revitalization of a once-great hub of Catholic culture in the United States.

First though, the unsavory business: The manifold problems dogging the Milwaukee Archdiocese are well-known by you and to anyone else not living in a cave for the past couple of decades. However, despite the archdiocese's nation-wide renown for unpleasant events, it has regularly surprised me and others that so little has been done, substantively speaking, from the higher-ups over the course of the past ten years or so. Frankly, many of us are thoroughly exasperated that our home archdiocese has persistently ranked number-one in the nation in pariah status when it comes to scandal and theological/liturgical heterodoxy.

No rational person expects perfection or overnight miracles at the snap of a finger, and it is very true that pleasing everyone is impossible (especially when all that truly matters is pleasing God). Yes, in an imperfect world, archbishops often have to approach controversial issues with a prudent sense of balance and measure to avoid even worse consequences and to keep the peace. But Milwaukee is far beyond that. As you surely know, Milwaukee is not a typical case. Intrigue and secrecy have become the established norm, along with rampant liturgical abuse and foggy guidance from the leadership. (Examples of this have been recorded on this blog for some time now.) All the while, traditional Catholics (for lack of a better term) are proffered the occasional lip service but, in substance, disowned and iced out of the family. Such Catholics who have the temerity to raise a hand in protest to make their voices heard are disparaged and cast as shrill whiners, distracting gadflies, intolerant blockheads, even half-crazy and summarily dismissed.

From parish to parish, Catholic school to Catholic school, the aberrations and confusion have long since become the norm in Milwaukee. In the quest to set things right, some have opted for a sort of charm offensive in their dealings with the unorthodox, hoping to win them over and placate the intensity of their liberal drive. One can understand the initial reasoning behind this attitude, but such a strategy will only work however, if there is an iron fist inside the velvet glove. For the last eight years, there has been no iron fist of last resort, just a limp, soft glove applied over and over again with little effect. The experiment to try to massage the opposition into complacency through charm has unquestionably failed. Far from mitigating the extant problem, the opposition in Milwaukee has only been reaffirmed and emboldened, knowing that they were able to bamboozle anyone thinking they could be won over with a smile and slap on the back.

It's time to employ another strategy. Of course, this doesn't necessarily translate to a fire and brimstone, "my way or the highway" approach, but it does require firmness of purpose, a clear vision of the actual situation and what needs to be done from day one, and the recognition that some people, for all their encomiums, are in principle, not going to be with you when the chips are down.

That said, there are many wonderful, holy priests, and lay faithful in Milwaukee who will be there to support you in your work.

All the best as you begin your new assignment. The prayers of thousands of Milwaukee Catholics, a truly great community of warm and loving people, will be with you as you hit the ground running on January 4.