Continued Examination of Sexual Grooming by Clergy : An Analysis of One Wisconsin Archdiocese

Abstract

In 2013, the personnel files of 42 credibly accused sexually abusive priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee were unsealed. Some of these files date back 70-80 years. A retrospective content analysis of these 42 priest personnel files was conducted. We collaborated to read and code 4,228 pages, seeking evidence of grooming behaviors. Priests’ grooming behaviors were identified using a deductive approach.