MI--New records released re controversial ex-Detroit bishop

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
July 20, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mi_new_records_released_re_controversial_ex_detroit_bishop

Newly released records on an archbishop who rose through Catholic church ranks in Michigan – and worked in a Michigan parish months ago – detail his allegedly “promiscuous” sexual activity “as a priest and bishop in Detroit.”

 http://www.fox9.com/news/177109505-story

Archbishop John Nienstedt is a Michigan native who became an auxiliary bishop in the Detroit Archdiocese, before being promoted to head two Minnesota dioceses: New Ulm and St. Paul/Minneapolis. He’s been repeatedly accused of committing sexual misdeeds and concealing sex crimes. He resigned his post overseeing the St. Paul archdiocese.

Now, internal church documents are raising questions again about how he dealt with priests who were proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesters.

Everyone knows that quietly moving molesters elsewhere is risky. But it’s also risky to quietly move “enablers.” That’s happening with Archbishop Nienstedt now. Just two weeks ago, he was found at a plush hotel in California’s Napa Valley saying mass at and participating in a conservative Catholic event.

http://www.fox9.com/news/171986388-story

And a few months before that, he was quietly allowed to work in a Michigan parish, until a firestorm of protest drove him out.

The fact that a Catholic bishop who’s accused of both concealing child sex crimes and committing sexual misconduct continues to work in Catholic parishes and institutions is proof positive that very little is changing when it comes to the safety of kids in the church.

No matter what church officials do or don’t do, every single person who saw, suspected or suffered sexual exploitation, abuse or crimes - and cover ups - in Catholic churches or institutions should protect innocent kids and vulnerable adults by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.