Friday, October 16, 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
Clergy Gone Wild: Clergy abuse survivors wait for results of state DOJ investigation
Laura Schulte
MERRILL - Five years after the launch of an investigation into investigthe breadth of abuse by faith leaders in Wisconsin, some survivors are still waiting to hear what the result is after sharing their stories with the state's Department of Justice.
Attorney General Josh Kaul started the inquiry in 2021, announcing it alongside survivors and advocates, promising a thorough review of reports received by the department, and an exploration of how abuse was perpetrated by leaders of all faiths.
While there have been periodic updates about the number of reports the department has received, and a handful of prosecutions stemming from reports, survivors have been left to wonder where things stand, when they will see a final report, and how their story might play into what exactly is disclosed.
Steve Weix, a former educator and one of several men who were assaulted as boys by former Catholic priest Thomas Ericksen, said he feels as if the survivors have been left behind in the conversation. Since he made his report in 2021, there has been little to no outreach to check and and share information about where the investigation stands.
He said he and other survivors of Ericksen, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2019 before the DOJ investigation, were initially hopeful the investigation could uncover how priests in the Catholic Church were moved from parish to parish after allegations of abuse. But with little outreach, that hope has diminished.
"It's just like it fell flat. They were like running around the track with fire in their hair, and they're doing something, and all of a sudden, that's the end of the race," he said. "It just never really went anywhere."
It's frustrating, Weix said, that after sharing deeply personal information with the department, it's taken so long to get the information out.
"It's sad because all these people maybe finally felt like they were going to be heard," he said. "They probably spilled their guts."
Kaul, who is running for re-election on Nov. 3, in an interview declined to share more information about where the investigation stands. DOJ data shows that 333 reports have been filed in the inquiry, and four prosecutions have resulted from reports.
"Throughout the process, I've been clear that we're not putting an artificial timeline. We're not going to set a timeline and work around a timeline," he said. "Instead, our focus is on ensuring that we have done as full and thorough of a job as we believe appropriate before we put something out."
As far as following up with those who have made reports, Kaul said follow-ups were made in cases where there was the potential for a prosecution, or in cases where it was possible that a religious organization would disclose the name of the alleged abuser.
Other than that, survivors were made aware of resources available to them through the Office of Crime Victim Services, Kaul said.
"To the extent that anybody has questions about where things stand, though, I encourage them to contact our office and we will follow up with them," he said.
Peter Isely, a member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said that while he initially supported the investigation ‒ and stood by Kaul at the media conference when he announced it in 2021 – he now has concerns about the process that's been used to gather information. He wants to know how there will be a comprehensive look at faith leader abuse, when the DOJ hasn't subpoenaed any religious organizations for documents regarding undisclosed names.
"It's so non-transparent," he said of the investigation. "This makes me extraordinarily angry, as a citizen and a survivor, what are you doing, Department of Justice? Why are you doing it this way?"
Kaul chose not to issue subpoenas to religious institutions including the Catholic dioceses in Wisconsin, but sought to view documents sealed during the 2015 Milwaukee Archdiocese settlement. A judge with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin ultimately denied that request.
What happens next
With Kaul up for re-election this fall in a rematch with Republican Eric Toney, survivors express an added layer of concern.
Weix has found himself wondering what will happen with the investigation if Kaul doesn't win in November.
Kaul said he would release the report before leaving office, whether he is not re-elected or for any other reason.
"I'm fully committed to getting a report out before I leave office," Kaul said. "But what happens subsequent to that is going to be up to whoever is in office."
Toney, the district attorney for Fond du Lac County, said even if the investigation isn't formally closed, he'd be willing to continue it as attorney general.
"Frankly, the public deserves some type of update on this because it's been years since this started with the promise of a report," he said in an interview. "I'll ensure that any investigation is finished, that we have answers for the public. That's the least that we can do."
Kaul argued that no matter when the report is released, the department will still have a role in supporting those who have endured abuse at the hands of faith leaders. Whoever takes over needs to be prepared to potentially receive reports of abuse, and connect people with the resources they need, or the appropriate law enforcement agencies, he said.
"Continuing to ensure the Department of Justice is a resource for survivors of clergy and faith leader abuse, I think, is critically important," Kaul said.
Toney said that if elected, he will widen the net even further, seeking out reports of any kind of abuse.
"I'll absolutely keep open any of those avenues for survivors to report abuse, but we need to make sure that it's not just limited to those that have suffered faith-based leader abuse," he said. "Whether it be someone from an educator, a counselor, or another position of trust, we need to make sure that we're protecting kids in all those different areas."
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.
As usual, the power pigs are keeping the truth from us. Just like the Epstein files, every effort is being made to protect the pedophiles. Remember when King Butt-Hurt promised that he would release the Epstein files as soon as he was elected? Ha! Pedophilia runs rampant in power circles. Pete Hegseth has personally molested dozens of girls, but that's "OK" because he's a power pig.
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