MINNESOTA
Valley News Live
In an open letter released on the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis website Monday morning Archbishop John Nienstedt announced he will release the names of priests who have sexually abused children.
The move marks a major change of position. For years the Archdiocese has refused to release a list of accused priests.
In his letter Nienstedt said, the Archdiocese will disclose “the names, locations and status of priests who are currently living in the Archdiocese, and who we know have substantiated claims against them of committing sexual abuse against minors.”
The letter said all the priests have been removed from ministry.
There is not an exact time on when the list will be released. In the letter Archbishop Nienstedt said they expect to announce the name of an outside firm to do the file review with in the next week and announce the results when the process is finished.
Nienstedt also explained the reasoning behind the change:
“Serious mistakes have been made in the archdiocese’s handling of abuse cases. Offering expressions of regret and sorrow seems so inadequate in the context of the crimes of the offenders and our failures to deal with them properly. And yet, I must say how sorry I am. My heart is heavy for the victims of this repugnant abuse.”
Open Letter From Archbishop John Nienstedt Regarding Clarance Vavra:
Clarence Vavra, a priest ordained in 1965, was removed from ministry in 2003. We take extremely seriously the concerns and questions about Vavra’s crimes against minors and the archdiocese’s handling of them.
In 1995, Vavra self-reported that he engaged in sexual contact with several young boys and a teenage boy during the time when he worked on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in approximately 1975. Vavra was not removed from ministry at the time for his admitted crimes. Instead, he went to inpatient treatment in 1996 and continued with outpatient treatment thereafter until at least 1998. He was allowed to go back into active ministry under the supervision of other priests until 2003. Vavra also engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with other adult males during his tenure as an active priest.
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