ST. PAUL, Minn. – An organization that pressed sexual misconduct charges against a former archbishop, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (“SNAP,” for short), faulted a Vatican investigation that more or less excused the former archbishop. The investigation left more questions than answers, SNAP said. The group called restrictions placed earlier on John Nienstedt — including exile from the St. Paul Archdiocese — as evidence that the church is reluctant to adequately address misconduct allegations. These restrictions had been imposed years earlier as interim measures. SNAP had accused Nienstedt of misconduct in new Ulm and also of inattentiveness to moral lapses among priests inclined to pedophilia.
Verbatim
SNAP: “Ignoring Nienstedt’s behavior only serves to condone it and encourages a culture of corruption within the church, where clergy and staff members may turn a blind eye, knowing that the consequences will be minimal if they are caught.”