St. Paul police have 7 priest sex investigations, chief says

MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press

By Mara H. Gottfried and Emily Gurnon
Pioneer Press

St. Paul police have seven investigations into allegations of sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual behavior involving priests, the city’s police chief said Wednesday.

In two other cases, prosecutors said Wednesday they will not be filing charges. Police Chief Thomas Smith said his department has not yet forwarded additional cases for prosecutors to review for charges. Two investigators currently are working on the cases full time, Smith said.

In October, St. Paul police urged victims of sexual abuse by priests to come forward. The seven reports currently under investigation were made after that date. They include allegations that date from 1960, 1972, 1977, 1981 and 1984, according to police reports.

Another case under investigation is an allegation made against Archbishop John Nienstedt; he was recently accused of “inappropriate touching” of a boy on the buttocks in 2009. Nienstedt has strongly denied the allegation and has stepped aside from his public ministry during the police investigation.

In a short interview with the Pioneer Press on Wednesday, Smith discussed his department’s work, but not specifics because of the active investigations. The questions and Smith’s answers are edited for space and clarity.

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