MICHIGAN
Battle Creek Enquirer
Jennifer Bowman, Battle Creek Enquirer January 17, 2016
The controversial retired priest who is volunteering at St. Philip Catholic Church told parishioners that news media last week reported “misleading information” about him and “those who know me well would verify that I would not act in those ways suggested.”
“Personally, I believe that some critics did not like the strong stance that I was forced to take in defense of Catholic teachings,” John Nienstedt said, “particularly the traditional definition of marriage, and I think they would like to punish me for those stands.”
His statement received an applause from some parishioners Sunday morning.
Nienstedt, former archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 2008 until last year, is temporarily helping out at St. Philip as the Rev. John Fleckenstein deals with health issues. He addressed the media coverage as he led Mass on Sunday, telling parishioners he hoped the reports would not “jeopardize” his relationship with them and that he became a priest “to help, not hurt people.”
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