US archbishop resigns over sex-abuse scandal

Rasa - Two Catholic bishops from the United States have resigned following criminal sex abuse charges against an archdiocese.

News ID: 2755

Date: 17 June 2015 - 01:21

RNA - Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, and auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche said they were quitting on Monday.

In a statement, Nienstedt said he was quitting "to give the Archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face".

The archdiocese is facing hundreds of other sexual abuse cases, in which priests have sexually harassed kids.

Pope Francis accepted the resignations a week after approval of a new church tribunal aimed at judging bishops that have not reported sexual abuse of children.

On June 5, a Minnesota prosecutor filed criminal abuse charges against the archdiocese.

In the six criminal charges filed by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi less than two weeks ago, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese was accused of being responsible for sexual abuse of three victims by a priest in 2010 and 2011.

Nienstedt said he was leaving "with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put in place solid protocols to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults."

"Though he has resigned, we still believe Nienstedt should be punished,” said Barbara Dorris, the director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "We hope these Vatican panels will quickly take up the Nienstedt case so that cover-ups will be deterred and kids will be safer," Dorris noted.

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