ANN STEFFENS, DAVID BECKHAM, DENNIS & JUDY JONES

Berger's Beat
July 16, 2014

http://bergersbeat.com/

Today’s New York Times details a rolling church abuse controversy in the Twin Cities (Archbishop Robert Carlson’s home diocese), where ex-KMOV reporter Ann Steffens is now the interim communications director for perhaps the second most-embattled Catholic prelate in the U.S. – St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt. Nienstedt is a virulently anti-gay crusader who faces new accusations that he himself broke his celibacy vows (with perhaps as many as 10 men) and continuing charges that he repeatedly and recently minimized, mischaracterized, hid and enabled child sex crimes. (Reminder, after leaving journalism, Steffens became the flak for the controversial then-Archbishop Raymond Burke, who fought with St. Stan’s, Sheryl Crow and many others during his stormy tenure here. She’s the second ex-Channel 4 reporter to take on that role, following in the footsteps of Jamie Allman.) And for the curious, the MOST embattled U.S.Catholic bishop continues to be Kansas City’s Robert Finn, who hails from our town.