MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, Jan. 31
Statement by Barbara Dorris of SNAP ( 314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )
On Thursday, one of Archbishop John Nienstedt’s public relations staffers said “We have continuously made ourselves available to law enforcement to address any outstanding questions they may have. . .”
[St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese]
On Wednesday, St. Paul’s police chief said “We have not had the opportunity to speak with Fr. McDonough.” (McDonough is a key figure in this scandal.)
Someone’s lying. We suspect it’s a Catholic official, not a law enforcement official. We suspect it’s Jim Accurso, not Captain Tom Smith.
It’s time for Nienstedt and his staff to fully cooperate, not just claim to cooperate, with police and prosecutor. There are two steps he should take immediately.
First, this week, Ramsey County prosecutors publicly begged victims, especially those who were forced or pressured to sign “gag orders” by church officials, to step forward.
Nienstedt should put this plea in every parish bulletin this Sunday, verbatim, and include contact numbers for local law enforcement agencies.
Second, Niestedt should issue a public statement today promising that he will not in any way retaliate against victims who break those “gag orders.”
Third, he should announce that he’s suspended Fr. McDonough and started defrocking him because of McDonough’s complicity in decades of cover up and his refusal to answer questions from police.
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