MINNESOTA
National Catholic Reporter
Brian Roewe | Jun. 3, 2014
A former top official on two separate occasions advised St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt to resign in response to accusations of mishandled clergy sex abuse allegations. While Nienstedt has not done so, Fr. Peter Laird heeded his own counsel.
In a deposition made public May 28, the former vicar general explained he met for about five minutes with Nienstedt Sept. 23 following a Minnesota Public Radio report that alleged the archdiocese mishandled child abuse claims. Laird intended to outline possible options to take in response to the situation.
He suggested having an outside review of archdiocesan files and appointing an external task force to examine existing policies — both steps taken in the months that followed.
Laird, vicar general from November 2009 until October 2013, also suggested the archbishop’s resignation.
It’s the responsibility of any leader in any organization, he explained to attorney Jeff Anderson, “to be accountable for the work that they’ve done, whether they — it happened under their tenure or not.”
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