Attorneys Want Diocese of New Ulm to Release List of 'Credibly' Accused Priests

By Leslie Dyste
KAAL
February 12, 2014

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3323057.shtml?cat=10151


There is growing pressure on the Diocese of New Ulm to release a list of priests who are "credibly" accused of sexually abusing minors.

On Wednesday, attorneys called again for that list to be made public. A lawsuit has already been filed asking for the diocese to release the list.

So far, the New Ulm Diocese has refused to release a list of 12 credibly accused priests.

A lawyer KSTP talked to last month said the New Ulm Diocese will be the battleground, because that's where Archbishop John Nienstadt came from.

The attorneys also asked the Diocese of Duluth to release more documents relating to the 17 priests there, who are accused of sexual abuse.

Meanwhile, a Ramsey County judge ruled Tuesday that key leaders in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will have to answer for their alleged actions for the first time ever, according to KSTP reporter Beth McDonough.

Archbishop John Nienstedt and the Rev. Kevin McDonough will have to go on the record and talk with investigators about how the church handled sex abuse allegations made against priests in local parishes.

The transcript of the depositions of Nienstedt and McDonough will be sealed. 

The judge also ruled the diocese must release the list of priests accused of sex crimes that happened after 2004, to the court and victim's attorneys by Feb. 18. It will be sealed, but can be unsealed by the court.