MICHIGAN
Grand Forks Herald
By St. Paul Pioneer Press on Jan 21, 2016
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Two weeks after he arrived in Battle Creek, Mich., to help an old friend with pastoral duties, former Twin Cities Archbishop John Nienstedt has left amid a swirl of criticism.
“After discussions with the archbishop conveying the expressed concerns by the faithful people of our community, he offered to withdraw from the diocese and I agreed,” the Rev. John Fleckenstein wrote in a letter to parishioners Thursday. “Archbishop Nienstedt has a deep concern for the church, and in light of the unintended discord that his presence was causing, he decided that this would be the best course of action so the church can remain focused on its mission.”
Nienstedt, who became archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2008, had been a controversial figure leading up to his resignation in June of last year.
He had come under fire for his stance on gay marriage and his refusal to step down after a whistleblower said in 2013 that he and other top brass had played a role in protecting credibly accused predatory priests.
He resigned 10 days after the Ramsey County attorney’s office filed criminal charges against the archdiocese, saying church leadership failed to protect children by covering up for a sexually abusive priest now in prison. Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche resigned simultaneously.
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