Catholic Group Calls on Twin Cities Archbishop Nienstedt to Resign

By Cassie Hart
KSTP
November 9, 2013

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3213746.shtml?cat=1

In this Oct. 21, 2010 file photo, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt talks about the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at his office in St. Paul, Minn.

Minnesota Catholics are still calling for one of their own to step down Saturday.

The Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR) wants Archbishop John Nienstedt to resign from the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese after the way the church handled accusations of sexual misconduct.

“We need healing, but healing cannot begin with the knife still in the wound,” said Bob Beutel, St. Paul, co-chair of the CCCR. “The archbishop himself is fomenting divisiveness, not showing leadership for a healthy Christian church.”

Since 2002 the Catholic Church has said it has and is following protocols for protecting children. Nienstedt took over the leadership of the Archdiocese in 2008, succeeding former Archbishop Harry Flynn.

In his October 24 statement in the Catholic Spirit, Nienstedt admits that “There is reason to question whether or not the policies and procedures were uniformly followed. There is also a question as to the prudence of the judgments that have been made.”

Nienstedt has said he won't step down.

The group is rallying in front of the St. Paul Cathedral from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.