MINNESOTA
National Catholic Reporter
Brian Roewe | Jul. 10, 2014
For the second time in seven months, Twin Cities Archbishop John Nienstedt faces allegations of sexual misconduct.
The latest charges reportedly involve no minors or criminal acts, but that hasn’t silenced some corners of the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese from sounding calls for a leadership change. Despite hearing those refrains, Nienstedt said he has “an obligation to preach and teach the Gospel,” and that any decision to resign does not lie with him.
“As a bishop, I made a promise to serve the Church. It is what God has called me to do, like a groom to the Church, for better or for worse. I have kept that promise since my ordination as a priest 41 years ago, and my episcopal ordination 18 years ago and I will continue to keep it,” he told NCR in an email.
Since the end of January, a Minnesota law firm hired by the archdiocese has examined numerous accusations that Nienstedt had engaged in improper sexual conduct with priests, seminarians and other men. News of the investigation broke July 1, when Commonweal magazine reported that lawyers with Minneapolis firm Greene Espel had interviewed former canonical chancellor Jennifer Haselberger about “sexual impropriety” by Nienstedt dating back to his time as a priest in his native Detroit archdiocese.
The archdiocese confirmed the report later that day in two press releases, one from Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché, who said the archdiocese received misbehavior claims “several months ago,” and that Nienstedt appointed him to investigate. Piché said that the investigation by Greene Espel, which he hired, is ongoing. He noted the claims “did not involve anything criminal or with minors.”
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