NORTH DAKOTA/NEBRASKA
Seattle PI

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A report by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops shows that the former diocese of the incoming Fargo bishop refused to take part in the group’s annual sexual abuse audit in 2012.

The Lincoln, Neb., district was the only diocese to reject the audit, which began in 2004 over allegations of sexual abuse by priests.

Monsignor John Folda, the bishop-elect for the Fargo diocese, has been a priest in Lincoln for two decades.

A spokeswoman for the Fargo diocese tells the Grand Forks Herald (http://bit.ly/13CBXsU) that Folda is not commenting on specific issues until he becomes bishop.