MINNESOTA
Minnesota Public Radio
Bob Collins June 15, 2015
I’ll be honest with you: As good and thorough as the MPR investigation was into clergy abuse at the now-bankrupt Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the coverup therein, I never thought Archbishop John Nienstedt would fall. The church has been too determined not to be taken down for its misdeeds.
That, of course, changed today when Nienstedt resigned, we suspect under pressure from a pope who has shown determination to address the scandals in his church.
“The Catholic Church is not our Church, but Christ’s Church, and we are merely stewards for a time,” Nienstedt said. “My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them. Thus, my decision to step down.”
The resignation comes just a few days after Pope Francis issued new standards of accountability for bishops.
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