MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 10/08/2013
Archbishop John Nienstedt wrote to the Vatican last year about whether the pornographic images found on a Hugo priest’s computer hard drive could “expose the Archdiocese, as well as myself, to criminal prosecution,” according to a copy of the document given to Minnesota Public Radio.
The letter was provided to MPR by Jennifer Haselberger, a former official of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who said that it was never mailed. Haselberger gave it to St. Paul police.
Nienstedt wrote to Cardinal William Levada on May 29, 2012, that the discovery of pornography on the computer of Rev. Jonathan Shelley happened before he became archbishop. He was therefore “unable to comment as to why this matter was not reported to you at that time,” as required by a papal order of 2001.
The letter provides more detail about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of archdiocese officials regarding the discovery of Shelley’s computer.
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