Winona Diocese Plans to Release Priest List This Morning

By Mike Dougherty
The Post-Bulletin
December 16, 2013

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/winona-diocese-plans-to-release-priest-list-this-morning/article_96715cf8-90a3-5fbb-89bd-0862ee794049.html



WINONA — The Diocese of Winona said it plans on Monday morning to release the names of 13 Catholic priests accused of sexually abusing children.

The diocese has until Tuesday to release the list, according to an earlier judicial ruling.

 

A Diocese of Winona spokesman told the Post-Bulletin that Bishop John Quinn plans to release the names of the priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. The list will include the name, birth date and year that each priest was ordained. The diocese will also say whether the priest is alive, list all parishes where the priest served within the Diocese of Winona, and cite the priest's current status in the ministry and address.

Mike Finnegan, an attorney representing clergy abuse victims, and former priest and advocate Patrick J. Wall plan a press conference today at 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn to discuss the list.

On Sunday, St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt spoke during two Masses at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, a large parish in suburban Minneapolis. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released its list with 33 names earlier this month.

"I am here to apologize for the indignation that you justifiably feel," Nienstedt said. "You deserve better."

After the early Mass, Nienstedt made a rare appearance before reporters. He would not take questions, but gave a three-minute statement. He said he was told the problem of clergy sexual misconduct was already solved when he became head of the Twin Cities archdiocese seven years ago, and that he didn't think he needed to worry about it.

"Unfortunately, I believed that and so my biggest apology today, and I did this last week at two other parishes, is to say that I overlooked this. I should have investigated it a lot more than I did," Nienstedt said. "When the story started to break at the end of September, I was as surprised as anyone else."

 



Contact: mdougherty@postbulletin.com