Police Chief Says Minn. Archdiocese Uncooperative

The Seattle Pi
December 17, 2013

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Police-chief-says-Minn-archdiocese-uncooperative-5072982.php



ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — St. Paul Police Chief Thomas Smith says the Twin Cities archdiocese is not fully cooperating with investigations into alleged clerical sex abuse.

At a news conference Tuesday, Smith said the archdiocese has declined to make clergy available to investigators.

He did not provide details about an allegation against St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt (NYNE'-sted). Nienstedt announced Tuesday that he's stepping down from public ministry while police investigate an allegation that he improperly touched a boy during a public photo session four years ago, an accusation he strongly denies.

In a statement, the archdiocese repeated that it "seeks to cooperate with the police and all civil authorities."

The archdiocese says it has asked for an opportunity to meet with St. Paul police, and that the meeting is set for Wednesday.