Minn. Church Leader's Deposition to Be Released

By Lindsey Seavert
KARE
April 24, 2014

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/04/24/deposition-of-former-vicar-general-kevin-mcdonough-to-be-released/8080147/

[with video]

SAINT PAUL - The deposition of Father Kevin McDonough, the former Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, will be publicly released Thursday.

Attorney Jeff Anderson and his associates are expected to release video and transcripts of the deposition as part of a civil lawsuit Thursday morning.

Father Kevin McDonough served 17 years as the Vicar General, a position declaring him the second most powerful man in the Archdiocese. Records show he has served as a priest at Peter Claver Church in St. Paul since 1990.

"He is warm hearted, affable, friendly, decent sort of fellow, that is the reputation he has. That's the way he comes off in public," said Dr. Charles Reid, a University of St. Thomas professor specializing in canon law.

The deposition will offer a glimpse of McDonough behind closed doors, just two days after Anderson's office released Nienstedt's deposition. Nienstedt testified McDonough was responsible for major judgment calls within the Archdiocese, and told attorneys McDonough advised him not to put certain situations in writing.

"This will come out tomorrow, is there distance between Nienstedt and McDonough, will Father McDonough fall on his sword and be the good solider? "Or, will he deflect some blame back onto Archbishop Nienstedt? We have some potential for a conflict of interest emerging," said Reid.

The deposition is part of evidence gathering for a civil lawsuit on behalf of victims, but Reid said could be could be other consequences for the Archdiocese ranging from possible bankruptcy, implications in Rome, and police investigation.

McDonough has yet to speak to police. Last December, St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith said leaders within the Archdiocese did not cooperate with their investigation, adding McDonough "respectfully declined our request through this attorney."

St. Paul Police spokesperson Howie Padilla said his investigators are interested in learning more about McDonough's deposition to see what value it adds to a potential criminal investigation.