Hearing postponed on criminal charges against Minnesota archdiocese

July 15, 2015

A Minnesota court has postponed a hearing on the criminal charges against the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

In June, Ramsey County prosecutor John Choi filed several misdemeanor charges against the archdiocese, charging that Church officials “time and time again turned a blind eye” to reports of sexual abuse. The charges did not name any individual Church leader, although Choi indicated that an investigation was continuing and other charges might be added to the complaint.

Shortly after the criminal charges were filed, Archbishop John Nienstedt resigned. His interim successor, Archbishop Bernard Hebda, has indicated that the is working hard to investigate the past actions of the archdiocese and to understand the legal situation; he said last week that he was not “exactly sure” how to respond to the criminal charges.

The initial hearing on the case has been rescheduled for August 25.

 

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Further information:

• Hearing in archdiocese criminal case postponed (MPR)
• Criminal charges against Minnesota archdiocese imperil payments to abuse victims (CWN, 6/25)
• Archbishop Nienstedt, auxiliary bishop resign (CWN, 6/15)