Archbishop, under Fire over Abuse, Apologizes but Says He Won’t Resign

By Michael Paulson
New York Times
July 30, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/us/archbishop-under-fire-over-abuse-apologizes-but-says-he-wont-resign.html?_r=1

The Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, under fire for the way his diocese has dealt with sexually abusive priests, apologized Wednesday for his conduct but rejected calls for his resignation.

The archbishop, John C. Nienstedt, acknowledged errors in his diocese’s response to abuse allegations, writing in a column for the diocesan newspaper that “it is very clear that we did not handle all complaints the way we should have in the past” and that he had only recently removed from ministry several priests accused of abuse.

The American bishops agreed 12 years ago that all clergy members facing credible accusations of abuse would be permanently removed from ministry.

“I have never knowingly covered up clergy sexual abuse,” Archbishop Nienstedt wrote. “I have, however, been too trusting of our internal process and not as hands-on as I could have been in matters of priest misconduct.”

He did not directly address accusations that he himself had had inappropriate sexual relationships with adult men, other than to say that he commissioned an investigation “because I had nothing to hide and wanted to be vindicated from false allegations, as anyone would.”

John C. Nienstedt

“I have no doubt that my administrative and personal style, with its strong point of view, may have offended some,” he wrote. “I apologize to those I have hurt. The last year has helped me realize I need to change my administrative style, soften my words, and get out from behind the desk to spend more time with the faithful.”

Archbishop Nienstedt has become one of the most embattled figures in the American Catholic hierarchy, under fire in the courts, in the pews and on newspaper editorial pages. He has prompted criticism as a vigorous opponent of gay relationships who has campaigned against same-sex marriage, called the homosexual acts depicted in “Brokeback Mountain” evil and accused Hollywood of “an agenda directly opposed to God.”

His handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations, as well as the actions of his predecessors as archbishop, has been unsparingly detailed in reporting by Minnesota Public Radio and has been sharply criticized by his own former chancellor for canonical affairs, Jennifer Haselberger. And he has faced mounting calls for his resignation, from laypeople, from the editorial board of The Star Tribune, and on Wednesday from the Rev. Thomas V. Berg, a moral theologian at the seminary of the Archdiocese of New York.

Archbishop Nienstedt’s apology on Wednesday was dismissed by advocates for victims of clergy sexual abuse. Barbara Dorris, the outreach director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said in a statement: “He continues to pretend that his deliberately deceptive behavior — over years — is just well-intentioned laxness, when ample evidence shows that’s just not true. He has repeatedly and knowingly protected predators and endangered kids.”

And Jeff Anderson, a Minnesota lawyer who has represented victims of clergy sexual abuse around the country, said the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was facing a problem that was “among the most grave we’ve ever encountered.”

“This guy is every bit the center of a serious and longstanding problem,” Mr. Anderson said.

Archbishop Nienstedt declined a request for an interview on Wednesday.

In his column, the archbishop said he would not resign because “I am bound to continue in my office as long as the Holy Father has appointed me here.” He said he would instead work to win back the trust of his parishioners.

He also said he had adopted a new “victims first” philosophy for his diocesan leadership, would hire a new liaison to victims, and would consult with victims for advice.

“I am sorry for the distractions I have inadvertently caused that have taken the focus away from the challenging and rewarding work we do as the Catholic Church in our local community,” he wrote. “We must continue to address head-on the terrible scandal of clerical sexual abuse.”