Boston, Mass., March 11, 2014 — Voice of the Faithful® agrees with the step Minneapolis and St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt is taking after allegations he touched a boy inappropriately. News reports say he is stepping aside while the allegation is investigated. In doing so, he is following the U.S. bishops’ guidelines for protecting children.
This action demonstrates that no one in the Church, whether bishop or employee, should be protected from the consequences of such allegations. Voice of the Faithful® would prefer that other bishops had been so diligent during these past decades of scandal. However, VOTF also believes that Archbishop Nienstedt should have resigned previously, when it became clear that child protection guidelines had not been followed in the past under his tenure.
Voice of the Faithful®: Voice of the Faithful® is a worldwide movement of faithful Roman Catholics working to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity and increase the laity’s role in governance and guidance of the Church. More information is at voiceofthefaithful.mystagingwebsite.com.
Contact: Nick Ingala, 781-559-3360, nickingala@votf.org