Wisconsin Catholic school leaders fired over violations of child protection policies

CNA Staff, Nov 26, 2024 / 13:07 pm

The superintendent of a Wisconsin Catholic school system has been fired along with a high school principal after officials there reportedly found violations of diocesan safe environment protocols meant to protect children from sexual abuse. 

Kate Heim, the interim president of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System in Appleton, Wisconsin, said in a letter to parents last week that Xavier High School Principal Mike Mauthe and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System superintendent John Ravizza were both let go by the school system after an investigation by the diocese. 

In the letter, obtained by Fox affiliate WLUK-TV, Heim told parents that the Diocese of Green Bay Office of Safe Environment had received “a complaint” that initially led to Mauthe’s being put on administrative leave. 

After an investigation, Mauthe was found to have violated the diocese’s “Our Promise to Protect” safe environment policy. Mauthe was subsequently fired from his position due to the reported violation. 

Heim said that Ravizza also “fail[ed] to meet reporting requirements” in connection with the investigation, and as a result, he was also fired.

The diocese reported the matter to police in accordance with state mandatory reporting rules, Heim noted. 

“Because this is a personnel issue, we are not at liberty to share the specifics of the situation such as the contents of the complaint, victim identity, and details regarding the evidence,” the interim president said in the letter.

Community members had started a petition to have Mauthe re-instated at the high school prior to Heim’s letter. In a Facebook post responding to those efforts, Mauthe urged the community to undertake “no petitions [and] no protesting” in response to his firing. 

The controversy “has given me a lot of time to think about how much I chase things like attention and importance to people, how I have an unhealthy attachment to trying to help, and how my actions can hurt and harm, even when that's the opposite of what I intend,” he wrote. 

“I am not a victim,” Mauthe added. “I broke a policy and accept the consequence for doing so. No excuses, no caveats.”

“During my career, I did not always maintain the proper boundaries of communication. That responsibility was mine,” he said. “I need to be better and I own my failures for any times that I've fallen short of who I strive to be.”

The petition was reportedly signed by “well over 600 people” before Mauthe requested the effort cease. 

The St. Francis Xavier school system includes an elementary school, middle school, and high school. Appleton is located about 30 miles south of Green Bay. 

The Diocese of Green Bay did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.