MINNESOTA
KARE 11
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The top deputy of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis resigned his post Thursday as concerns grow over the church’s approach to sex abuse cases involving clergy.
The Rev. Peter Laird explained his sudden departure as vicar general in a statement posted on the archdiocese’s website Thursday afternoon.
“Over the last few years, this Archdiocese has made significant progress in many areas, including how we have strengthened policies and practices regarding clergy misconduct,” Laird said in the statement. “I am hopeful my decision to step aside at this time, along with the formation of a new task force can help repair the trust of many, especially the victims of abuse.”
Archdiocese leaders, staff and priests, he added, “are sincerely committed to proactively addressing these difficult issues.”
Laird was identified in a Sept. 23 MPR News story detailing how the archdiocese knew of the sexual misbehavior of a priest, Fr. Curtis Wehmeyer, yet kept him in the ministry.
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