MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio
Tom Scheck, Laura Yuen, Mike Cronin · St. Paul, Minn. · Dec 17, 2013
Archbishop John Nienstedt, leader of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has voluntarily “stepped aside from all public ministry” while police investigate an allegation that he touched a boy on the buttocks in 2009.
The St. Paul Police Department began its investigation at 2 p.m. Monday after the archdiocese encouraged a person within the church who is required by law to report allegations of abuse to contact authorities. In a statement this morning, archdiocese officials said they learned of the allegation from that person.
The boy is a minor, according to the statement.
“The single incident is alleged to have occurred in 2009 during a group photography session with the archbishop following a confirmation ceremony,” the statement said.
In a letter to Twin Cities Catholics posted on the archdiocese’s website today, Nienstedt denied the accusation.
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