Key Players in the Resignations of John Nienstedt and Lee Anthony Piche

By Hal Davis
Pioneer Press
June 15, 2015

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_28319959/key-players-resignations-john-nienstedt-and-lee-anthony

Key players in the resignations of John Nienstedt and Lee Anthony Piche:

JOHN NIENSTEDT

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

"In order to give the archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face, I have submitted my resignation," he said Monday. "I leave with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put in place solid protocols to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults."

LEE ANTHONY PICHE

Auxiliary bishop who was tasked last year with investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Nienstedt from July that he had inappropriate sexual conduct with adult priests, seminarians and other men. No results have been reported.

Piche had previously taken over Nienstedt's public duties after the archbishop removed himself from ministry in December 2013 as an investigation led by Choi examined an allegation that Nienstedt inappropriately touched a boy during a 2009 confirmation photo. The archbishop returned to full-time duty in March 2014 after that investigation found no evidence against him.

In 2010, a fellow priest told Piche that he had found Wehmeyer in bed with a boy during a camping trip the previous month. In a later interview with police, Piche said he didn't remember the priest's report.

JENNIFER HASELBERGER

Former chancellor of canonical affairs. Resigned in April 2013.

"I've raised the point time and time again that the leadership has to change," she told Minnesota Public Radio. "It's pretty much same old, same old."

CURTIS WEHMEYER

Former priest pleaded guilty in November 2012 to sexual abuse against minors and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced in February 2013 to five years in prison.

JOHN CHOI

Ramsey County attorney. His office filed criminal charges and a civil petition against the archdiocese this month, saying church leaders protected Wehmeyer and kept him in its system while he continued to abuse children.

The civil petition seeks "legal remedies to prevent the archdiocese from allowing this behavior to ever happen again," Choi said this month.

JEFF ANDERSON

The St. Paul-based attorney has represented many victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The resignations are part of an "important reckoning" for the failure of top officials to respond appropriately when priests were accused of abusing children, he said.

PETER LAIRD

Former vicar general. Said in a sworn deposition in 2014 that he suggested Nienstedt resign. Resigned as vicar general after media reports in the fall of 2013 disclosed mishandling of allegations of clergy misconduct.

KEVIN MCDONOUGH

Peter Laird's predecessor as vicar general.

Ramsey County complaint against the archdiocese alleges that archdiocesan officials -- McDonough and former Archbishop Harry Flynn -- ignored complaints and reports about Wehmeyer's behavior, which included sexual compulsions and alcohol abuse, for years before he was arrested and charged with a crime.

BERNARD HEBDA

Coadjutor archbishop of Newark, N.J. Former the bishop of Gaylord, Mich. Named apostolic administrator of the St. Paul archdiocese.

Advocates for victims of clergy sex abuse suggested his naming to the Newark position in 2013 was almost certainly tied to scandals that clouded Archbishop John Myers' stewardship of that archdiocese.