Minnesota archbishop acknowledges crisis of confidence
October 24, 2013
Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul-Minneapolis told a Minnesota Public Radio audience that he realizes many people and even priests have “lost confidence” because of recent revelations about mishandling of sex-abuse cases.
"As head of this local Church, I accept responsibility for addressing the issues that have been raised,” the archbishop said. He denied covering up evidence of abuse by local clerics, and assured the public that there are no known abusers still active in priestly ministry in the archdiocese.
Many of the problems recently unearthed in the Minnesota archdiocese occurred before Archbishop Nienstedt took control, during the tenure of his predecessor, now-retired Archbishop Harry Flynn. Ironically, Archbishop Flynn chaired the US bishops’ committee on abuse prevention.
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Oct. 24, 2013 6:24 PM ET USA
Since when is it ok to permit a priest to have adult porn on their computers? Never heard a sermon condoning that behavior.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Oct. 24, 2013 6:16 PM ET USA
"Ironically, Archbishop Flynn chaired the US bishops’ committee on abuse prevention." Precisely. Perhaps that is why across the country we have seen so little that is authentic really done. The program designed to keep children safe is, putting it charitably, a joke, and nothing has been done to address the real question, the guilt of bishops who repeatedly covered up homosexual clerical activities in their dioceses. ("Pedophilia" isn't now and in fact never was the real problem.)
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Oct. 24, 2013 5:55 PM ET USA
You can bet the long knives are out for Archbishop Neinstedt since he had the audacity to promote the Marriage Amendment with Church money. The Archbishop has alienated both the left and the right in his Archdiocese due to his traditional stands on the moral issues and his siding with the liberal Democrats against the conservative Republicans on economic issues and amnesty for illegals. Nienstedt has no base of support. I expect he will ask the Pope to reassign him.
