Nienstedt Leaves Battle Creek

By Jennifer Haselberger
Canonical Consultation
January 21, 2016

http://canonicalconsultation.com/blog.html

This morning, the following letter was sent by the pastor of Saint Philip of Battle Creek, Reverend John Fleckenstein, and reprinted by the Battle Creek Enquirer. Many will no doubt see this as a victory, but I am less sanguine. First, because it raises the question of where he will go next (most likely back to Saint Paul), and also because there is a certain inconsistency in terms of our expectations. We object vociferously to Nienstedt being given a new appointment in the Church, but he was far from the only Church employee, or even the only priest, to be soundly criticized in the Ramsey County petition and charging documents. Yet, with the exception of Bishop Piche, most of those individuals are still in their jobs, with little concern expressed about their fitness or the danger they pose to children. This situation deserves our attention as well.