State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser has recused himself from two cases this session involving allegations of sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Peter Isely, Midwest Director for Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests, cites a case involving Father John Patrick Feeney formerly of the Green Bay Diocese. Isely says recently released documents show, while Prosser was the Outagamie County District Attorney in the 1970's, he did not prosecute Feeney. Isely says Feeney went onto assault "many, many" children in numerous states that he lived in. Feeney was later convicted of abuse.
After being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1998, Prosser ruled on two cases involving the church and abuse. Isely has issue with Prosser stepping aside with particularly with one of the two cases.
"Explain why he is recusing himself on this case, but not the other cases of clergy sexual abuse he has ruled on," says Isely.
He claims it is a civil liability case similar to Prosser's previous two rulings. None of the high court cases involve the Green Bay diocese, according to Isely.
