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Show A20 _ The SaltitLake Tribune NATION Friday, May 24, 2002 Archbishop Acknowledges =. Settling Sex Assault Claim The ee. has been Milwaukee leader, however, denies -—— knowledged Thursday hepaida ing him more than 22 years ago. He denied abusing anyone, but asked the Vatican to expedite and a friend, both priests. They advised him notto go to the po- the resignation he submitted grets he did notdo so. earlier this year. The archbishop’s accuser, gave him $14,000 to help him Paul Marcoux, received ‘$450,000 in 1998. He said he was drunk when Weakland attempted to assault him in October 1979, but he did not go to thathe agreed to pay Marcoux under a legal settlement, though Marcoux had not sued the archbishop. “Because I accept the agreement’s confidentiality provi- sion, I will make no comment oe its contents,” Weakland ‘aWeokland, who recently adopted a zero-tolerance policy lice. Marcoux said he nowreMarcoux Associated Press file photo Archbishop Rembert Weakland paid $450,000 in 1998 to settle a sexual abuse claim toward abusive priests, said Weakland develop a video and Christian retreat business called Christodrama, combining drama and spirituality, which he continues to run. Marcoux produced letter, been archbishopsince posted on the Milwaukee Jour- reached the mandatoryretirementage of 75 in April and is awaiting the Vatican’s ap- nal Sentinel’s Web site, in which Weakland said he could not give more than $14,000 to pointmentofa newleader. He said the accusation would be a distraction and asked Rometo replace him as soonas possible. In an interview with The Associated Press, Marcoux said he met Weaklandin September 1979 at a dinner organizedbya local Catholic leader. Soon after, Marcoux said he called the archbishop to discuss the priesthood. ‘The nightof the alleged assault, Oct. 11, 1979, Marcoux said he and Weakland had cocktails and a coupleofbottles ofwine with dinner,then drove back to Weakland’s home, where the archbishop invited him to come upstairs. Marcoux said Weaklandtried to rape Marcoux forthe project. “T felt like the world’s worst hypocrite. So gradually I came back to the importance ofcelibacy in mylife... . Paul, I re ally have given you all I personally possess — the $14,000 is really mypersonal limit.” The letter expressed Weakland’s angstat not being able to maintain a relationship with Marcoux. He ended the letter saying,“I love you.” Marcoux said he suffered from depression and sent the archbishop letter asking for a meeting in July 1997. After being rebuffed, he consulted with lawyers who advised him to pursue a monetary settlementsince the statute of limitations for criminal | aa ans 58.00 Fil OO CluB $6.00 Gi 3 Demos Break Ranks, Vote in Support of Bush Judicial Nominee BY JESSE J. HOLLAND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Three Senate Democrats broke ranks Thursdayand voted to send one of President Bush's judicial nominees to the full Senate for consideration, despite critics’ questions aboutconflicts of interests and his views on the ‘workplace, the disabled and the environment. The nomination of U.S. Dis‘trictJule D. Brooks Smith to ithe 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of :Appeals in Philadelphia was ‘approved 12-7 bythe Senate Jutdiciary Committee, sending it {to the Senate. Republicans, who voted unanimously for Smith, needed at least one Democratic vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor. The committee has 10 Democrats and nine Republicans. Theygot three: Sens. Joe Bidenof Delaware, John Edwards of North Carolina and Herb Kohl ofWisconsin. Kohl didn’t commenton his vote. Edwards, who missed the , Vote butlater got approval to be {recorded as voting for Smith, ‘said he believed Smith would not let his personal views affect his judgment. Bidensaid he also had prob- lems with Smith because he made a speech about the Violence Against Women Act, which was going to be chalJenged in court, in front of the conservative Federalist Society in 1993. But “I don't have sufficient reason to vote against this judge,” Biden said. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., a former prosecutor who is a Smith patron, made a plea for Democrats to allow Smith to movepastthe committee. ly. members of this committee give some def: erence to their fellow members who have served a fair length of time, have some knowledge of judicial practices and law and who have been willing to vote against some Republicans and have notacted quickly enough on his nominees. TheSenate has confirmed 57 judges, including nine of the president's first 30 appeals court nominees. Bush has nominated 102 people for U.S. Appeals and District Court vacancies. A coalition of feminist, environmental, civil rights and Sept. 10, but Republicans have accused them of smearing him. He was named a federal judge in 1988 by President Reagan. Democrats have complained Smith remained in an all-male sporting club 11 years after telling the Senate he would leave if the club didn't change ident, and questioned trips he accepted from organizations pursuingrelaxed environmental regulations. The Justice Department cleared Smith of any wrongdoing in the fraud case, and he testified that his rulings as a judge “were neither illegal nor unethical.” Smith said the trips, some to Save up to 50%. Sprint Store Semi-Annual Sale. Choose from over 25 phones. "Now, only at Sprint Stores, you can save up to 50% on over 25 of the mast popular Sprint PCS* Phones. 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The Senate Judiciary Committee also held a confirmation hearing for Arkansas lawyer Lavenski Smith, who wants a seat on the&th U.S. Circuit Court some Democrats very much the exhalations of my party,” he said. Bush and the GOP have complained that the Democrats t aOR ANlg MMe Soe err aces confirmation hearing why he waited to remove himself from a fraud case involving a bank where his wife was a vice pres- have been willing to vote for The ard Cireuit covers Pennsylvania, Jersey, fuemertiaad foe 18. Virgin Islands. It's not clear when the Senact on Smith's >Sprint Store other special-interest groups has been agitating against Smith since his nomination appointee of Gov. Mike Huckabee. Smith ran unsuccessfully for the state Court ofAppeals in 2000, and now serves on the state Public Service Commission. * PLACE TEAM!| him. Marcoux said he continued spending time with Weakland because he was interested in me,” Marcoux said. “I realized how muchin love he was and how obsessed he was with me . . but I was notinterested ina romanticrelationship.” Ultimately, Marcoux said, he sought advice from a cousin bishop Rembert Weakland ac- more than 20 years,” he said. . gent bishop — interested in settlement to a man who accused him of sexually assault- Weakland’s words cameaf“ter ABC Newsfirst reported a 13-year-old boy. ith a sexually priest acknowledged molesting tee vepe gealy a “It was flattering to have the Arch- student at the time. He said Weakland seemed infatuated with him and later made sexual advances that he brushed aside. In a statement, Weakland denied the claims. “I have never abused anyone. I have not seen Paul Marcoux for an eed in 1979. In a 1993 The archbishop didn’t ac- after garded as a progressive,intelli- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Marquette University theology ger to a new church archbishop of Milwaukee — re- BY MELISSA McCORD police because twopriests advised him notto. Marcoux, now 53, was a mete ee. Cae ee becominga priest. abusing anyone MILWAUKEE deposition, Weakland said he —Sagaaye! criticism for Sprint Stores: Hands-on demonstrations, free test calls, expert help. |