MINNESOTA
Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch
Posted Oct. 31, 2013
Sleepy Eye, Minn.
Archbishop John Nienstedt, who served as Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm from 2001 until 2007, when he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is under scrutiny over how he handled clergy misconduct in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
A Minnesota Public Radio news investigation found that church officials disregarded concerns over priest misconduct over the past 10 years.
In an e-mail response to that investigation, Nienstedt denied any abuse cover-up and expressed regret that some parishioners and priests have lost confidence in him over these concerns.
“As head of this local church, I accept responsibility for addressing the issues that have been raised and am completely committed to finding the truth and fixing the problems that exist,” Nienstedt wrote. “My highest priorities are to ensure the safety of our children and to restore the trust of Catholics and our clergy. I will do everything in my power to do so.”
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