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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?

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.

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?