The St. Paul-Minneapolis Roman Catholic archdiocese is facing criminal charges “for its failure to protect children.” The six charges are related to a case in which former priest Curtis Wehmeyer abused three victims. He pleaded guilty in November of 2012 to three counts of criminal sexual misconduct with two minors and 17 counts of felony possession of child pornography.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said, “Today, we are alleging a disturbing institutional and systemic pattern of behavior committed by the highest levels of leadership of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis over the course of decades.” Choi said the archdiocese failed to “responsibly and meaningfully respond to numerous and repeated reports of troubling conduct, adding that “it was not only Curtis Wehmeyer who harmed children, but it was the Archdiocese as well.”
Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens acknowledged the charges, and said, “We deeply regret the abuse that was suffered by the victims of Curtis Wehmeyer and are grieved for all victims of sexual abuse. We will continue to cooperate with the Ramsey County Attorney’s office. We all share the same goal: To provide safe environments for all children in our churches and in our communities.”
After the charges were filed, Archbishop John Nienstedt and one of his top deputies Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche resigned their offices.
In a statement Nienstedt said “My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them. Thus, my decision to step down.”
“Canon lawyer Jennifer Haselberger charged that the Church used a chaotic system of record-keeping that helped conceal the backgrounds of guilty priests who remained on assignment. She said she repeatedly warned Nienstedt and his aides about the risk of keeping priests accused of abuse in ministry, but they took action only in one case. As a result of raising alarms, she said she was eventually shut out of meetings about priest misconduct, and later resigned.”
But apparently the problem was deeper than that. Minnesota Public Radio reported that Nienstedt interfered with an investigation, which he had authorized in the hope of clearing his name. But some of his own top advisors accused Nienstedt of inappropriate behavior including sexual advances toward priests. But his auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche limited the probe to allegations of crimes and “grave sins.” Details of how Nienstedt tried to limit the investigation came from four people who provided affidavits to investigators, as well as current and former archdiocese officials and others.
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:4, 5
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