LACROSSE, Wis. –The LaCrosse Catholic bishop, William Patrick Callahan, expressed sadness at news about Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill leading a non-celibate double life while on the road doing business for the U.S. Conference of Bishops. Burrill has been with the LaCrosse Diocese since 1998. Bishop Callahan did not say what he would do with Burrill’s diocesan assignments. He did, however, pledge “full cooperation with the Conference of Catholic Bishops to pursue all appropriate steps in investigating and addressing the situation.” Burrill, age 54, has been forced to resign as the chief of staff for the Conference of Bishops. Callahan said that Burrill had taken safe-environment training and passed background checks at the diocesan levels since 1998.
Burrill. Unclear what’s ahead for him in LaCrosse Diocese. Allegations don’t involve minors.
Verbatim
Bishop Callahan: “Please remember Monsignor Burrill and all affected in your prayers so they may find refuge and strength in God’s unfailing love.”
Archbishop Jose Gomez, president, U.S. Conference of Bishops: “”What was shared with us did not include allegations of misconduct with minors. However, in order to avoid becoming a distraction to the operations and ongoing work of the conference.”
Clerical profile
Listed by year of appointment, some which ran several years:
1994: Bachelor of arts degree from Saint Mary’s College Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, in 1994.
1997: Bachelor of sacred theology from the Gregorian University in Rome.
1998: Ordained in LaCRosse Diocese.
1999: Licentiate in ecumenical theology from the Angelicum University, also in Rome.
2001: pastor of the tri-parishes of St. Mary’s, Durand, Holy Rosary, Lima, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Mondovi, Wisconsin.
2009: At Pontifical North American College in Rome, first as director of apostolic formation and then as the Carl J. Peter chair of homiletics, formation advisor, and director of media relations.
2013: Pastor of St. Bronislava Church in Plover, Wisconsin.
. 2016: Associate general secretary U.S. Conference of Bishops.
2020: General secretary U.S. Conference of Bishops.
Also: six years as a regional vicar and two terms on the Diocesan Presbyteral Council.
Also: ecumenical officer and as a member of the seminary admissions board.