Judge Forces Archdiocese to Release Material Pertaining to Nienstedt’s Role in Abuse Scandal

By Casey Michel
New Civil Rights Movement
April 2, 2014

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/judge-forces-archdiocese-to-release-material-pertaining-to-nienstedts-role-in-abuse-scandal/news/2014/04/02/85003


Over the last half-dozen years, Archbishop John Nienstedt has been one of the most outspoken opponents of granting any LGBT rights, either in his home state of Minnesota or across the nation. He has found a series of supporters, but he’s also managed to turn himself into one of the most reviled characters both the Catholic Church and the anti-gay marriage movement has managed to produce.

Fortunately, Nienstedt’s rancid views seem to finally be catching up with him.

In the midst of an ongoing investigation into decades of sex abuse cover-ups within the Minneapolis archdiocese, a judge ruled last week against the archdiocese’s request to delay the release of abuse documentation. While the church will not be releasing the entirety of its documentation next week, Ramsey County District Judge John Van de North ruled that the archdiocese must release those documents most relevant to Nienstedt, who was deposed today.

As the judge noted, it was important to keep the archdiocese’s “feet to the fire.” Moreover, if the church does not release all relevant documentation by Wednesday, the possibility remains for a follow-up deposition for the embattled archbishop.

The archdiocese noted that 45,000 documents had been copied for the court, out of a possible 60,000. Daniel Haws, an attorney for the archdiocese, requested that the documents remain sealed, but the judge rejected the request. Van de North also ruled against striking survivors’ names from the files.

The rulings are but the latest blow against Nienstedt and his inner circle, which helped lead the failed push to bar same-sex marriage in Minnesota. And they were not the only moves against the archbishop this week. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office asked the St. Paul Police Department earlier this week to reopen a pair of cases relating to sex abuse in the archdiocese – with one pertaining to Nienstedt in particular.

As MPR reported, the attorney’s office requested “St. Paul police to reopen these cases as they review all the reports once again, police spokesman Howie Padilla said. A spokesperson from the Ramsey County Attorney’s office said the re-examination is not specific to Archbishop Nienstedt, but the cases have other elements that require further investigation.”

The Star-Tribune reported on today’s deposition.

The archdiocese released a statement later Wednesday, noting Nienstedt told attorneys children’s safety is the archdiocese’s highest priority. The statement says he expressed regret for past mistakes with clergy abuse allegations.

Needless to say, between the deposition and the possibility of further investigation for his own sex abuse complaints, Nienstedt is finally seeing a bit of the comeuppance he’s been so long due.