Archbishop Nienstedt: New Allegations of Sexual Misconduct "Entirely False"

By Bill Keller
Fox 9
July 1, 2014

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25918774/archbishop-nienstedt-new-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-entirely-false

After months of defending how the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis handled allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy, the archbishop himself is now the focus of an investigation into his behavior with other men.

This is not a criminal investigation, but rather an internal investigation into an accusation Archbishop John Nienstedt has violated his vows of priesthood -- the vow of celibacy in particular. "Multiple allegations" of inappropriate sexual contact with seminarians, priests, and other adult men have surfaced, and the source may be a surprise. The accusations come from the archbishop’s former top canon, lawyer-turned-whistleblower Jennifer Haselberger.

"These allegations are absolutely and entirely false,” Nienstedt said in a statement. “Since I would instruct the archdiocese to investigate similar allegations made against any priest, I have ordered the archdiocese to independently investigate the allegations made against me."

Nienstedt said the allegations involve events alleged to have occurred at least a decade ago, before he began serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Nienstedt became archbishop in 2008, and for the past two years has been under fire for how he has handled allegations of sexual misconduct by clergy.

"I suspect if you have a secret -- a sexual secret and you harbor that -- and then you find out someone else has sexual secrets, I believe you would be less apt to blow the whistle on them," Frank Meuers, of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told Fox 9 News.

The apostolic nuncio, who oversees all bishops in the United States, has been informed of the allegations. According to the archdiocese, Nienstedt has no plans to step down during the investigation.

Statement from Archbishop John Nienstedt

"Upon my direction, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is conducting an internal investigation involving allegations made against me. These allegations are absolutely and entirely false. Nonetheless, I ordered Bishop Lee Piche to oversee an independent, thorough investigation and that he hire an outside firm unaffiliated with the Archdiocese to conduct the investigation.

The allegations do not involve minors or lay members of the faithful, and they do not implicate any kind of illegal or criminal behavior. The allegations involve events alleged to have occurred at least a decade ago, before I began serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

I have ordered that the investigation be conducted for the benefit of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese investigates all allegations of clergy misconduct. It would be unfair to ignore these allegations simply because I know them to be false. Since I would instruct the Archdiocese to investigate similar allegations made against any priest, I have ordered the Archdiocese to independently investigate the allegations made against me.

The investigation is ongoing. The Apostolic Nuncio, who oversees all bishops in the United States, has been informed of the allegations and he will be informed of the results of the investigation when it is completed. Let us pray that the truth will come out as a result of the investigation."