Saturday, December 7, 2013

Minn. Archdiocese Posts List of Accused Priests

Minn. Archdiocese Posts List of Accused Priests
MINNEAPOLIS December 5, 2013 (AP)
By AMY FORLITI Associated Press

Amid mounting public pressure and under order from a court, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Thursday published a list of 34 priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors.

The list includes the names of eight men who had not been publicly named previously as alleged abusers.

It places the men in two categories: 30 are believed to have molested children, while the remaining four have claims against them that could not be substantiated. For example, one of those four cases involved a sexual relationship with an adult.

"The disclosures made today are not intended to be final," Archbishop John Nienstedt wrote in his Thursday column in The Catholic Spirit newspaper. "We are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of clergy files, and the list will be updated as additional announcements are made."

A judge gave the archdiocese until Jan. 6 to disclose information about additional priests accused of molesting kids. Going forward, Nienstedt said, any substantiated claims will be disclosed on the archdiocese website.

Nienstedt has been under fire over allegations that he and other church leaders mishandled cases of clergy sexual misconduct. He said he hoped the disclosure would help victims heal and rebuild trust....
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/minn-archdiocese-reveals-accused-priests-names-21110165

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