Newark Diocese Official Named Interim Head of Minnesota Archdiocese Rocked by Sex Scandal

By Craig McCarthy
NJ.com
June 15, 2015

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/newark_diocese_official_named_interim_head_of_scandal-plagued_minnesota_archdiocese.html

Archbishop Bernard Hebda speaks to a woman at his Welcome Mass at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on Nov. 5, 2013. (File photo)

In the midst of a sex abuse scandal in Minnesota, an archbishop and another top bishop have resigned and the pope has appointed a New Jersey Catholic official the interim head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to reports.

Archbishop John Nienstedt said in a statement he is leaving the archdiocese "with a clear conscience."

Although not charged individually, Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche announced Monday the pope had accepted their resignations, according to The Washington Post.

"In order to give the Archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face, I have submitted my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and I have just received word that he has accepted it," Nienstedt said.

Pope Francis has named the Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark, Rev. Bernard Hebda, the temporary administrator of the archdiocese.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.