MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Raya Zimmerman
rzimmerman@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 12/15/2013 1
The head of the Twin Cities Archdiocese told an overflowing Edina sanctuary Sunday that he failed to check for himself whether clerical sexual abuse cases had been resolved.
“When I arrived seven years ago … I thought the abuse and polices were in order. That was a big mistake, and I apologize,” Archbishop John Nienstedt told hundreds of Roman Catholics at a morning Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church.
Nienstedt’s two homilies at the church come roughly two weeks after the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a list of 34 priests “credibly accused” of sexually abusing children in decades prior.
“I am here to apologize for the indignation that you justifiably feel. You deserve better,” he said in his homily.
Nienstedt and the archdiocese have faced heated scrutiny since the fall. Spurred by a whistleblower, Minnesota Public Radio and other media began reporting failures by the institution in dealing with clergy who sexually abused children, including allegations of cover-ups.
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