Nienstedt Apologizes, Says He 'Overlooked' Clergy Abuse

The Kare
December 15, 2013

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/2013/12/15/at-sunday-mass-nienstedt-apologizes-says-he-overlooked-clergy-abuse/4031801/

[The archbishop's homily]

EDINA, Minn. -- Archbishop John Nienstedt has started addressing the clergy sex abuse scandal head on, telling parishioners and the media Sunday that he's sorry he overlooked issues of abuse among parish priests.

Nienstedt said mass at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina. He told parishioners and reporters after mass that he was told the issue of clergy sex abuse was taken care of when he became archbishop seven years ago.

"Unfortunately I believed that and so my biggest apology today, and I did this last week at two other parishes, is to say I overlooked this. I should have investigated it more than I did," Nienstedt said.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is taking steps to reconcile the issue, Nienstedt said. The steps include releasing the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. Several parishioners said they were pleased Nienstedt addressed the issue but a few said they wished he would have done it sooner.