St. Louis auxiliary bishop Dolan named Milwaukee archbishop

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Timothy M. Dolan, an auxiliary bishop in St. Louis who had headed the American seminary in Rome, was named by the pope Tuesday to succeed Rembert Weakland as Milwaukee archbishop.

Pope John Paul II accepted Weakland's resignation May 24 -- a day after he acknowledged paying a $450,000 settlement to Paul Marcoux, a former Marquette University student who said Weakland sexually assaulted him in 1979.

Dolan, 52, served five years as secretary to two papal delegates to the United States in Washington, D.C. From 1994-2001, he served as rector of the Pontifical North American College, an elite seminary in Rome for men selected by their bishops.

He left that post upon his appointment to St. Louis.

Jerry Topczewski, the spokesman for the Milwaukee Roman Catholic Archdiocese, said Dolan was in Milwaukee Tuesday and would appear at a news conference later in the day.

"We look forward to his spiritual and pastoral leadership and his perspective on issues facing the church in southeastern Wisconsin," Topczewski said.

Weakland, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in April, has denied he abused Marcoux, but acknowledged they had an "inappropriate" relationship. He made a public apology in the matter for what he said "the scandal that has occurred because of my sinfulness."

Weakland had initially said that his earnings from speeches more than covered any settlement amount, but later said he had been told a review showed his work had earned $196,723, including interest. He said he would continue contributing to the archdiocese, and it will receive his effects when he dies.

In other developments, the archdiocese announced it will hold three town hall meetings this week to address sexual abuse of minors by priests.

Unlike the six listening sessions held around the archdiocese last month, staff members from four archdiocesan departments and the chancery office will be available to answer questions.

Archdiocesan officials acknowledged many people were disappointed to discover that the listening sessions were designed to record their opinions but not to answer their questions.

The first meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Milwaukee's All Saints Parish. St. Richard Parish in Racine is scheduled to host a 10 a.m. Wednesday meeting while Kenosha's St. Mary Parish is slated for a 7 p.m. Thursday meeting.

Those areas were not included when about 3,000 Catholics attended six simultaneous "listening sessions" on the sexual abuse of minors held May 16 at parishes in Fox Point, Milwaukee's south side, Brookfield, West Bend, Plymouth and Burlington.