MINNESOTA
KARE
[with video]
Jay Olstad, KARE
MINNEAPOLIS – In a newly released deposition Tuesday, Archbishop John Nienstedt claimed he was unaware of clergy sex abuse during his tenure.
CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF THE DEPOSITION OF ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT
He also claimed that one of his top deputies advised him not to write down conversations they had about clergy misconduct, advice he said he followed.
A judge ordered the deposition, which is part of a lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It took place April 2 and lasted four hours.
Attorney Jeff Anderson pressed Nienstedt on many topics, including why the archbishop did not inform parishioners they had priests working in their churches with allegations of child sexual misconduct
“I believe that we felt that we could monitor the situation without making a total disclosure to the people,” said Nienstedt.
Nienstedt claimed church officials have always turned over information to police, but only if they first found evidence they deemed to be credible of illegal behavior.
“So is it your position and practice that you don’t turn it over unless they ask?” asked Anderson. “That is correct,” responded Nienstedt.
Nienstedt put a lot of the responsibility on Father Kevin McDonough, former Vicar General. In fact, he admitted that McDonough told him not to put some of their discussions in writing because it may end up in a lawsuit.
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