Ex-Milwaukee archbishop apologizes Former Archbishop Rembert Weakland puts his hand on his head as he makes an apology during a public service at the Mater Christi Chapel in the Archbishop Cousin's Catholic Center Friday in St. Francis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — After acknowledging an ``inappropriate relationship'' with a 30-year-old theology student and begging for forgiveness, former Archbishop Rembert Weakland turned his back on congregants at a prayer service and knelt before the altar to pray. The congregation rose and applauded for nearly two minutes for the cleric, who has said he agreed to a secret settlement four years ago with a man who accused Weakland of sexually assaulting him decades ago. ``I think he's a good man,'' said Mary Ann Herzog, 39, who attended the service Friday night. ``I feel for him.'' Weakland apologized at the service, held a week after his 25-year tenure ended. ``I apologize to all the faithful of the archdiocese which I love so much, to all its people and clergy for the scandal that has occurred because of my sinfulness,'' Weakland said during the 20-minute public service at the Mater Christi Chapel in suburban Milwaukee. Weakland is the highest-ranking American cleric to acknowledge settling a sexual assault allegation against him. ``It took guts,'' the Rev. Michael Fahey, a Marquette University theology professor, said after the service. The archdiocese reached the $450,000 settlement in 1998 with Paul Marcoux, a former Marquette student who said Weakland sexually assaulted him in 1979. The Vatican accepted Weakland's resignation May 24, a day after he acknowledged paying the settlement. The cleric, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in April, asked the Vatican to speed acceptance of his resignation but denied ever abusing anyone. ``Our poor archbishop is at the end of his reign and he's being slapped in the face,'' said Bill Stone, 72, of Oconomowoc, Wis. Nearly 450 people attended Friday's service, Weakland's first public appearance since news of the scandal broke. Weakland said he agreed to the settlement to avoid costly litigation, but could understand why it might look like ``hush money.'' ``One of my fears in not accepting the settlement was the prospect of scandal and embarrassment for myself and for the church,'' he said. ``For that lack of courage I apologize.'' Weakland also apologized to Marcoux for any harm done to him. Marcoux, now 54, couldn't be reached for comment Friday night. A telephone number for him was unavailable and he didn't respond to e-mail. The archdiocese said the $450,000 came from its real estate and property fund, which has been used since 1995 for lawsuit settlements, including those dealing with pedophile priests. Weakland said in a statement last week that his earnings from speeches more than covered any settlement amount, but he said Friday he had been told that was not the case. The archdiocese said a review of accounts showed his work earned $196,723, including interest. ``In my remaining years I will continue to contribute to the archdiocese whatever I can and, of course, the archdiocese will receive whatever effects I own on my death,'' he said. The service wasn't the first time Weakland had sought forgiveness from parishioners. In 1992, he apologized for transferring the Rev. William Effinger, who admitted molesting an altar boy in Lake Geneva in 1979, to a Sheboygan parish after Effinger received treatment. As the Roman Catholic sex scandal has evolved in recent years, a dozen bishops worldwide have been publicly accused of misconduct. Weakland's case stands out in part because of his stature in the church as one of its leading liberals. Weakland was the worldwide leader of the Benedictine order for a decade before coming to Milwaukee. He started an innovative program 12 years ago giving support to priest abuse victims and treatment for offenders. This spring he accepted the recommendation of a commission he appointed that the church adopt a zero-tolerance policy against sexual abuse by priests. Fahey said news of the settlement and Weakland's apology will help open up a national clerical culture that has been built on secrecy. ``Catholics tend to be very forgiving people,'' Fahey said. But not all, it seems, are ready to forgive. ``He's only doing this because he got caught,'' said Patricia Nuyttens, 51, of Milwaukee. ``He's made a laughingstock out of the archdiocese. He's broken our hearts. He lied to us. He cheated us. He took our money.'' ——— On the Net: Milwaukee Archdiocese: http://www.archmil.org/