MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
By Jean Hopfensperger Star Tribune JANUARY 21, 2016
Former St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt has resigned from a temporary post at a Michigan church, “in light of the unintended discord that his presence was causing,” the priest at the church wrote to parishioners Thursday.
The Rev. John D. Fleckenstein, pastor at St. Philip Catholic Church in Battle Creek, said that “anger and fear” had surfaced as a result of Nienstedt’s assignment, which started just two weeks ago. Nienstedt was expected to stay about six months.
Nienstedt resigned from the Twin Cities archdiocese last June after the Ramsey County attorney’s office filed civil and criminal charges claiming that the church had failed to protect children from clergy sex abuse under his watch.
Fleckenstein informed his parishioners in a Jan. 10 church bulletin that Nienstedt would be helping him at the church as he underwent medical treatment. He did not mention Nienstedt’s controversial time in Minnesota.
The move was immediately condemned by victims of clergy abuse, and picked up by national news media.
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