The Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis has taken the extraordinary step of resigning from his position, amid a clergy sex abuse scandal.
Nienstedt’s departure comes 10 days after prosecutors filed criminal charges against the archdiocese, accusing church leaders of failing to protect children after repeated complaints of sexual abuse.
Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche also handed in his resignation. Neither acknowledged any wrongdoing, but said that their continued presence had become a distraction to the church.
Minnesota Public Radio reporter Madeleine Baran received a Peabody Award for a radio documentary examining the role of the archbishop and his predecessors in shielding priests from abuse. Here & Now’s Robin Young talks with her about what this resignation means for the Catholic Church in the Twin Cities.
Guest
- Madeleine Baran, reporter at Minnesota Public Radio. She tweets @madeleinebaran.
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