Robert F. Morneau

Robert Fealey Morneau (born September 10, 1938) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Morneau served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay from 1978 to 2013.

Biography

Early life The fourth of six children, Robert Morneau was born on September 10, 1938, in New London, Wisconsin, to Leroy and Catherine (Fealey) Morneau. After graduating from Bear Creek High School, he studied at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and Sacred Heart Seminary in Oneida, Wisconsin. Morneau then entered Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned both bachelor and masters degrees.

Priesthood Morneau was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Green Bay by Bishop John Grellinger on May 28, 1966.

After his ordination, Morneau worked as an assistant pastor at a parish in New London, Wisconsin. He then took appointments in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he served as a faculty member at Silver Lake College. and chaplain at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus and Park Town Home. He has also taught at the Summer Theological Institute of St. Norbert College and served on the college's board of trustees. In 1985, Boyea pleaded guilty to first degree sexual assault of a different child and was sentenced to ten years in prison. In 1986, a $12 million civil suit was filed against Morneau and the diocese by three of Boyea's victims. The diocese eventually settled with the victims.

Retirement and legacy

On September 10, 2013, Morneau turned 75, the retirement age at which bishops must submit a retirement request to the Vatican. On October 7, 2013, Pope Francis accepted his retirement. On September 14, 2018, the Vatican granted Morneau's request to withdraw from public ministry. In a statement, Morneau cited his failure to report Boyea to police in 1979. In a statement, Morneau said:I failed to report to local authorities an incident of abuse of a minor by a priest in 1979 and, as a result, this priest was able to abuse again several years later. I intend to spend my time in prayer for all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and I will do corporal works of mercy in reparation for what I failed to do.