Archbishop Nienstedt Says He Won't Resign

Fox 9
July 31, 2014

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/26160149/archbishop-nienstedt-says-he-wont-resign

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) -

Despite rising pressure to resign, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt says he’s not going to step down.

Nienstedt wrote a letter that will be published Thursday in the Catholic Spirit, and in it, he says he feels bound to his position because the Holy Father put him there. He also claims he never knowingly covered up any clergy abuse, but did say he could have been more involved in handling priest misconduct. He also answered questions regarding allegations of his own possible sexual misconduct, and included how he intends to help the church come together again.

His interview and announcement comes in the wake of lawsuits filed regarding the alleged abuse and cover up of crimes committed by church officials and priests. In court depositions, Nienstedt said he knew of priests accused under the church's internal monitoring program but weren’t removed from their respective parishes.

Detailed allegations made by lawyer Jennifer Haselberger were made public in a 107-page affidavit in early July that accuses archbishops and senior staff of lying to the public and concealing evidence of alleged sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.