Posted on 10/24/2013 7:13:40 AM PDT by haffast
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Archbishop John Nienstedt said he accepts responsibility for addressing the unfolding clergy sexual abuse crisis and regrets that a growing number of parishioners and priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have "lost confidence" in him.
However, he denied any abuse cover-up or illegal actions and repeated the archdiocese's claim that there are no offending priests in active ministry.
Nienstedt's remarks came in an e-mailed response to questions from MPR News. It's the first time the archbishop has answered questions about the scandal since MPR News began publishing investigative reports in late September.
"As head of this local Church, I accept responsibility for addressing the issues that have been raised and am completely committed to finding the truth and fixing the problems that exist," Nienstedt wrote. "My highest priorities are to ensure the safety of our children and to restore the trust of Catholics and our clergy. I will do everything in my power to do so."
An MPR News investigation found Nienstedt and other top church officials failed to warn parishioners of a priest's sexual addiction. That priest, the Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer, is serving five years in prison for sexually abusing two children and possessing child pornography.
Subsequent reports showed the archdiocese kept "borderline illegal" pornography found on the computer of the Rev. Jon Shelley in 2004 and gave extra payments to priests who sexually abused children.
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(Excerpt) Read more at minnesota.publicradio.org ...
Twin Cities archdiocese delays $160M capital campaign
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
October 22, 2013
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/10/22/archdiocese-delays-capital-campaign
Ssssssh!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3082477/posts
Minnesota Sex Abuse Scandal Entangles University of St. Thomas; Leads to Clergy Resignations
Catholic Education Daily ^ | October 23, 2013, at 9:49 AM | Matthew Archbold
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3082990/posts
Unless the Pope drops his politically correct posturing and purges the clergy of homosexuals these vile molestations of young boys will continue. The faithful are being harmed and are becoming disillusioned. Homosexuals corrode anything they permeate.
seems he's a little too mcuh Bahgdad Bob.
But can you imagine if some mysterious force suddenly caused an “exodus” of all the pedophiles and homosexuals who are preying on kids out of the churches and schools? It seems it would be of Biblical proportion! Some institutions might well collapse.
He’s got a reputation to protect. That comes first.
Actually he is a very faithful Bishop and is not liberal like his predecessor. The St. Paul Archdiocese was lucky to get Nienstedt for a bishop. He cleaned up the seminary, removed the liberal theologians, and now they are getting lots more vocations.
When Nienstedt was appointed to the Archdiocese, the strongly liberal parishes and universities objected fiercely. Nienstedt is correct that not all priests accused of molestation are guilty. It would be wrong to publish a list of every name that ever was put forth as guilty when some of them have been exonerated from guilt.
There may be some residual problems here that need to be addressed, but this smells like a campaign against an orthodox bishop who is riling the feathers of the liberals. They will do and say anything to remove traditional Christian leaders.
I think the jury is still out on this one.
Saying “there are no offending priests in active ministry” is different than saying “not all priests accused of molestation are guilty”.
(IF that was what he was quoted as actually saying.)
Mistakes made in Catholic clergy sex abuse probes: Minnesota archbishop
Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS | Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:38pm EDT
"The Star Tribune newspaper also reported on Thursday that the archdiocese had paid out nearly $11 million from 2003 to 2012 in costs directly linked to sex abuse and other misconduct committed by priests removed from active ministry."
"Deziel said the archdiocese must release its list of 33 priests it believes have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children and open its files to law enforcement, with the findings made public and charges filed if necessary."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/25/us-usa-crime-church-idUSBRE99O01620131025
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