MINNESOTA
CBS Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is being investigated for, among other claims, allegedly making unwanted sexual advances toward a former Twin Cities priest, according to a report by Commonweal Magazine.
After receiving information about the allegations in late 2013, the archdiocese hired an outside law firm to investigate the accusation, selecting Minneapolis firm Green Espel. The investigation is not related to the December 2013 accusation that Nienstedt touched a boy’s buttocks during a confirmation photo shoot — where charges were not filed.
The former top canon lawyer, Jennifer Haselberger, says that she believes investigators have received about 10 sworn statements accusing Nienstedt of sexual impropriety. He’s also accused of retaliating against those who refused his advances or questioned his conduct.
The accusations date back to his time as a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, as Bishop of New Ulm and while coadjutor and archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
In a written statement, Nienstedt denies the allegations:
Upon my direction, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is conducting an internal investigation involving allegations made against me. These allegations are absolutely and entirely false. Nonetheless, I ordered Bishop Lee Piche’ to oversee an independent, thorough investigation and that he hire an outside firm unaffiliated with the Archdiocese to conduct the investigation.
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