Archbishop Nienstedt and Aide Resign in Minnesota Over Sex Abuse Scandal

The New York Times
June 15, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/us/archbishop-nienstedt-and-aide-resign-in-minnesota-over-sex-abuse-scandal.html

The archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a deputy bishop resigned Monday after prosecutors recently charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect youths from the abuse at the hands of pedophile priests.

In statements released Monday morning, the archbishop, John C. Nienstedt, and the auxiliary bishop, Lee A Piché, said they were resigning to help the archdiocese heal.

“My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them,” Archbishop Nienstedt said. “Thus, my decision to step down.”

Pope Francis has accepted the resignations, and has appointed the Rev. Bernard A. HeCoadjutor Archbishop of Newark, as apostolic administrator to oversee the archdiocese.