MINNESOTA
Star Tribune

By Maureen McCarthy Star Tribune JUNE 15, 2015

Archbishop John Nienstedt stepped down as head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Monday morning, saying, “My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works [of the church].”

In a statement released early Monday, Nienstedt said he had submitted his resignation to Pope Francis in Rome, “and I have just received word that he has accepted it.”

Named to head the archdiocese in 2007, Nienstedt has presided over a tumultuous period for the church, most notably the still-unfolding clergy sex abuse scandal.

On June 5, the Ramsey County attorney’s office filed criminal charges against the archdiocese for “failing to protect children” from an abusive priest, marking the first time that a U.S. archdiocese has been criminally charged for such offenses. The now-former priest, Curtis Wehmeyer, is serving a prison term for abusing two boys…