MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: TONY KENNEDY , Star Tribune Updated: February 14, 2014
Archdiocese files request to block testimony, release of records while it prepares to appeal.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis moved to block this week’s court order that Archbishop John Nienstedt testify about the church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse cases and release the names of all local priests accused of sexually abusing children since 2004.
In a request filed late Thursday in Ramsey County District Court, lawyers for Nienstedt said Judge John Van de North exceeded his authority by ordering the expanded list of abusive priests and compelling Nienstedt and former Vicar General Kevin McDonough to submit to questioning from attorneys of abuse victims. The archdiocese asked for the demands to be dropped while it proceeds with an appeal.
“The legal basis for the broad discovery permitted and the disclosures ordered by the court are highly questionable,” the archdiocese said in a five-page court filing.
In court Tuesday, Van de North ordered the depositions of Nienstedt and McDonough within 30 days and also ordered the archdiocese to create a list of all priests accused of sexually abusing minors since 2004. The list, which the judge said must be prepared by Feb. 18, is in addition to a list of clergy accused before 2004, which was released in December. The new list is supposed to include all priests who have been the subject of abuse complaints since 2004, not just those church officials had determined were “credibly accused.”
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