MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - He calls it “sinful and criminal” behavior by priests. The archbishop of Milwaukee bluntly admitted wrongdoing by priests in a recorded message that was played at weekend Masses.

Archbishop Jerome Listecki explained last week’s decision to file for bankruptcy petition in the message, saying pending sexual abuse lawsuits would leave it with debts it couldn’t pay. Listecki repeated that the reorganization would affect only the archdiocese and not Catholic schools, hospitals and charities.

Listecki said he was embarrassed, making no excuses and apologizing for the slow response by the church to the scandal.