Pressure Mounting for Archbishop Nienstedt to Resign

By Jay Kolls
KAAL
September 4, 2014

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3550777.shtml?cat=10151

[with video]

Pressure is mounting from within the Archdiocese for Archbishop John Nienstedt to resign, law professor and University of St. Thomas Catholic Church expert Dr. Charles Reid says.

This week, Fr. Patrick Kennedy called on Archbishop Nienstedt to step down after civil lawsuits were filed against the Winona Archdiocese for allegedly not reporting and then covering up allegations of child sexual abuse by priests.

Fr. Kennedy is the sixth priest within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to urge Archbishop Nienstedt to step down.

The Archbishop was not available for comment Wednesday, but a spokesperson says his position on resigning has not changed. Nienstedt has repeatedly said he has no intention of quitting as head of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.

Dr. Reid says it is extraordinary for priests to call on an Archbishop to resign.

"They are absolutely putting their careers on the line because Bishops hold a lot of power over their priests," Reid said.