Archdiocese coverup allegations draw chastisement, charity

MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

Article by: JIM ADAMS , Star Tribune Updated: October 6, 2013

Catholic parishioners expressed shock, forgiveness at claims the archdiocese may have covered up child porn possession.

Twin Cities Catholics reacted with surprise, disappointment and forgiveness Sunday morning after hearing parish leaders discuss reports that church officials may have covered up evidence that a Hugo priest kept child pornography on his computer.

At the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Susan Engel was frustrated at new allegations of sexual misconduct in the church. “I feel angry that it is happening again. We thought they had a plan in place to deal with it right away and not cover it up and it sounds like it wasn’t followed.”

The latest controversy surfaced last week, when the second highest prelate in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis resigned amid contentions that he covered up evidence of child pornography found on a priest’s computer.

Many Twin Cities parishioners heard a pulpit announcement Sunday saying that Archbishop John Nienstedt had appointed a new vicar, who will choose members for an independent task force to begin meeting this week to review all issues related to allegations of clergy misconduct. The task force will recommend new actions or policies and its findings will be made public, the archdiocese said. The new vicar is the Rev. Reginal Whitt, of the University of St. Thomas Law School.

The announcement also pledged “zero tolerance for abuse,” and asked parishioners to “please pray for all victims of sexual misconduct in Church ministry and in our society.”

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