(Catholic League) ARCHBISHOP NIENSTEDT DESERVES JUSTICE

Catholic League ^ | 12/18/2013 | Bill Donahue

[markomalley]

Bill Donohue comments on the decision by Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John C. Nienstedt to temporarily step down:

Archbishop Nienstedt has been the subject of a non-stop crusade orchestrated by ex-Catholics, and Catholics in rebellion against the Church, simply because he stands for everything they are not: he is a loyal son of the Catholic Church.

Now—out of the blue—comes an unidentified male who claims he was touched on his buttocks in 2009 by the archbishop while posing for a group photo. Nienstedt denies the charge, adding that he has never inappropriately touched anyone. Moreover, he has not been told the identity of his accuser.

The Catholic League is asking those who were there to share with us any information they have. Specifically, we are interested in obtaining a tape recording, or set of photos, of any Confirmation ceremony in 2009 where Archbishop Nienstedt was present; presumably, the alleged victim was standing next to the archbishop. Also, we are asking anyone who knows anything about the accuser (someone knows who he is) to come forward. Please email us at pr@catholicleague.org.

I know of no other leader, religious or secular, who would step down pending an investigation because some guy says he was touched on his behind four years ago in a group photo. It’s time the bishops revised their “zero tolerance” policy. Too often, it means zero justice for the accused, thus undermining the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.

When it comes to “zero tolerance” in the schools, every teachers union, as well as the New York Times, has counseled against it. With good reason: it does not allow for the nuances that color so many cases. The bishops ought to follow suit and junk this policy before it becomes the weapon of choice against them.

[markomalley]

Good for Donahue! About time somebody stood up against those homosexualist terrorists.

[Salvation]

This happened in a group how long ago?

It stinks of ambulance chasing attorneys.

[Alex Murphy]

The Catholic League is asking those who were there to share with us any information they have. Specifically, we are interested in obtaining a tape recording, or set of photos, of any Confirmation ceremony in 2009 where Archbishop Nienstedt was present; presumably, the alleged victim was standing next to the archbishop. Also, we are asking anyone who knows anything about the accuser (someone knows who he is) to come forward.

IMO this should be a relatively small list of ceremonies. Why would the Catholic League want access to the list when undoubtedly the archdiocese already possesses it?

[markomalley]

IMO this should be a relatively small list of ceremonies. Why would the Catholic League want access to the list when undoubtedly the archdiocese already possesses it?

First, that archdiocese has 200 parishes and there are three bishops. Confirmation normally occurs in the spring between Easter and Pentecost. Each parish (except very small ones) will normally have at least two Confirmations a year. Ones with fairly large elementary schools may have three or four. That's a lot of confirmation rites (and, in principle, a bishop should be present for each of them...but that doesn't always happen).

Second, that's not what Donahue is asking for. He's asking for video (or photos) from any Confirmation ceremonies (presumably taken by parents or others in attendance) where Nienstedt was present during that cycle.

Third, the Catholic League is a private organization, not an official part of the Church. So I think an assumption that he would automatically get the information he is asking for from the Archdiocese might be a bit optimistic.

[nickcarraway]

Donahue is a lying hypocrite. He started shilling for the gay agenda over ten years ago. He was pushing for gay civil unions by 2001. The sooner that lowlife vermin retires the better.

[Godwin1]

It would NOT be a small list. Every parish would have had its own confirmation ceremony. In any year, a large archdiocese like this one would have had scores, even hundreds of such ceremonies. The Archbishop would not have presided over all of the them, of course, as subordinate and auxiliary bishops would have split the tasks. But the Archbishop would have done a few dozen, minimum.
This looks like a put up job. How do you defend yourself against a 4-year old charge that you “touched” someone?

[Godwin1]

I think you have Donahue mixed up with someone else. He opposes homosexual adoption and homosexual marriage. He backs the traditional Catholic view that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” He believes that homosexuals are unfit for service in the clergy.