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Haselberger Affidavit: Attempt to Have Father Tegeder Declared Disabled for Opposing Archbishop’s Campaign Against Marriage Equality, While Known Threat to Minors, Father Wehmeyer, Remained in Ministry

William D. Lindsey

There’s a significant detail tucked away in Jennifer Haselberger’s lengthy affidavit (significant to me, if to no one else) that I’d like to bring to readers’ attention: a section of the affidavit (§ 72) directly counters a claim made by Archbishop Nienstedt’s attorney in Nienstedt’s deposition that the archbishop does not have the power to declare a priest disabled. Haselberger notes that, after his attorney made this claim, Nienstedt himself added that he didn’t understand questions directed to him about his prerogative as archbishop to declare a priest disabled.

Haselberger states flatly that “the Archbishop was in error” about this matter of fact, and that he had every reason to understand full well that declaring a priest…