Archdiocese says it will name priests accused of sexually abusing minors; church critics skeptical

MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press

By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 11/11/2013

Advocates for child sexual abuse victims responded with deep skepticism Monday to Archbishop John Nienstedt’s promise to release names of abusive priests.

Nienstedt said in a statement Monday that the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis would be “disclosing 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 names will be made public sometime in November, Nienstedt said.

Attorney Mike Finnegan said that he doubts the list to be released by the archdiocese will include all of the 33 that church officials said in 2004 were “credibly accused” of sex abuse of children.

And there is no reason for delay, Finnegan said.

“My biggest question seeing this is, why wait?” Finnegan said. “Keeping this list secret for one day, one hour, puts additional kids at risk.”

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