MINNESOTA: Archbishop John Nienstedt Resigns Over Molestation Scandal

"In order to give the Archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face, I have submitted my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and I have just received word that he has accepted it. The Catholic Church is not our Church, but Christ’s Church, and we are merely stewards for a time. 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. I leave 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. I ask for continued prayers for the well-being of this Archdiocese and its future leaders. I also ask for your continued prayers for me." - Archbishop John Nienstedt, in a press release issued this morning.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Vatican said Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche. They resigned under the code of canon law that allows bishops to resign before they retire because of illness or some other "grave" reason that makes them unfit for office. Earlier this month, prosecutors charged the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as a corporation of having "turned a blind eye" to repeated reports of inappropriate behavior by a priest who was later convicted of molesting two boys. No individual was named in the indictment. The resignations came just days after Pope Francis approved the creation of a new tribunal inside the Vatican to hear cases of bishops who failed to protect children from sexually abusive priests. Francis' decision followed years of criticism that the Vatican had never held bishops accountable for having ignored warnings about abusive priests and simply moved them from parish to parish rather than report them to police or remove them from ministry.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: The Archdiocese declared bankruptcy in January 2015. Last summer Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt was accused of "sexual impropriety" with priests and other men. Nienstedt then denied allegations that he is gay to a local newspaper. Niedstedt was later grilled by a different local paper about his sexuality. In January 2012, Nienstedt ordered all of Minnesota's priests to remain silent if they opposed the coming referendum on same-sex marriage. Later in 2012, it was Nienstedt's ugly anti-gay public letter that launched NFL player Chris Kluwe into the spotlight after Kluwe penned a blistering response in a local newspaper. In September of that year Nienstedt declared that Satan loves sodomy. Also in September 2012, Nienstedt was accused of shielding a pedophile priest who is currently in prison. In 2010 Nienstedt ordered that communion be denied to openly gay students. Also in 2010, Nienstedt's archdiocese sent out 400,000 DVDs to Minnesota voters urging that they support anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

MINNEAPOLIS: Archdiocese Declares Bankruptcy, Freezing Molestation Suits

Via the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune:

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday, becoming the 12th in the nation to say its treasury cannot withstand the unprecedented wave of lawsuits from clergy abuse victims. The move freezes lawsuits against the church, protecting the archdiocese from creditors while allowing it to develop a reorganization plan. It also halts three abuse trials scheduled to begin Jan. 26. The archdiocese is facing more than 20 lawsuits, with another 100 pending. The bankruptcy filing didn’t provide precise financial figures, but showed estimated liabilities of $50 million to $100 million, estimated assets of $10 million to $50 million, and estimated creditors of 200 to 999. “Reorganization will allow the finite resources of the archdiocese to be distributed equitably among all victims/survivors,” said Archbishop John Nienstedt. “It will also permit the archdiocese to provide essential services required to continue its mission.” The bankruptcy filing will allow the archdiocese to continue its daily operations while giving it time to reorganize its finances as a judge determines how much victims may be entitled to receive.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Last summer Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt was accused of "sexual impropriety" with priests and other men. Nienstedt then denied allegations that he is gay to a local newspaper. Niedstedt was later grilled by a different local paper about his sexuality. In January 2012, Nienstedt ordered all of Minnesota's priests to remain silent if they opposed the coming referendum on same-sex marriage. Later in 2012, it was Nienstedt's ugly anti-gay public letter that launched NFL player Chris Kluwe into the spotlight after Kluwe penned a blistering response in a local newspaper. In September of that year Nienstedt declared that Satan loves sodomy. Also in September 2012, Nienstedt was accused of shielding a pedophile priest who is currently in prison. In 2010 Nienstedt ordered that communion be denied to openly gay students. Also in 2010, Nienstedt's archdiocese sent out 400,000 DVDs to Minnesota voters urging that they support anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

Minneapolis Paper Runs Anti-Trans Ad

Full-page People Against Transgendered People ad in Strib sports section. Mankato-based Child Protection LeagueAction pic.twitter.com/JuWhzK5W0C
— David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 28, 2014

Via Minneapolis City Pages:

Yesterday, the Star Tribune upset many of its LGBT-friendly readers by running an anti-transgender ad paid for by the Minnesota Child Protection League. The ad urges parents to contact Minnesota State High School League officials ahead of a meeting later this week and ask them not to approve a new policy that would allow transgender students to participate in athletics based on their gender identity. A report on the thecolu.mn website describes the MCPL as "A group of veteran religious right and tea party activists" who were active opposing the anti-bullying Safe and Supportive Schools Act before it was signed into law earlier this year. The report notes that the group's lead spokesperson is Barb Anderson, founder of the Parents Action League. To give you an idea of where the MCPL is coming from, consider that Anderson once said, "The greatest threat to our freedom and the health and well-being of our children is from this radical homosexual agenda that is just so pervasive."

The Star Tribune responds to complaints:

If you were doing a story on how media of all kinds (broadcast, print, digital) handle campaign and advocacy advertising, I'd consider how we could contribute to the conversation. But I don't think that's what you're doing. In Minnesota, organizations and individuals of all kinds -- left, right, other -- know that if you want to reach the largest audience and have the biggest impact with your message, the best way to do it is advertising in the Star Tribune.

MINNEAPOLIS: Man Shouting Scripture Shoots Gay Couple With BB Gun

Two tourists visiting the popular Minneapolis gay bar The Saloon were shot with a BB gun on Thursday by a man shouting bible verses.

“He made a disrespectful comment towards the homosexual community, towards a couple that was holding hands and he obviously didn't appreciate that,” [security guard Tyler] Erickson said. Shortly after his expletives, Odegard's sheer disregard for the establishment, or humanity, then escalated. After yelling gay slurs, he allegedly pulled out a CO2 powered BB gun. “I ran after him and then it ended up he shot a different gay couple in the leg, with that gun and it went through his jeans and drew blood,” Erickson said. Before Odegard could run even 30 feet, Erickson nabbed him, arrested him and called police. “He told me multiple times that I'm going to go to hell and he's going to bring me with him,” Erickson said. “He recited a biblical passage -- I think it's a Deuteronomy passage.” Fortunately, they couple wasn't seriously injured. It wasn't a real gun, but the act shouldn't be taken lightly, Erickson said. “Even if the guy was shot with the same CO2 powered BB gun in the face, it would've gone right through his cheek.

(Via Christian Nightmares)

MINNESOTA: Gay Reporter Grills Archbishop John Nienstedt About His Sexuality And Views On LGBT Rights

Minnesota Archbishop John Nienstedt, who spearheaded his state's campaign against same-sex marriage, is being investigated over allegations that he has had "inappropriate sexual relations" with priests, seminarians, and other men. This week a gay local television reporter grilled him about his sexuality and his views on gay rights. Via Minnesota City Pages:

Last week, embattled Archbishop John Nienstedt did the media rounds, granting one-on-one interviews to most local outlets. (Our invitation must've gotten lost in the mail...) Fox 9 reporter/anchor Tom Lyden's interview with the archbishop was especially noteworthy. Lyden, who's married to a man he's been in a relationship with for more than two decades, grilled Nienstedt about his own sexuality and anti-gay views. The line of questioning culminated in the archbishop acknowledging that his beliefs about the sinfulness of same-sex sexual relations don't seemingly make much sense at all.

Start the clip at 9:00. This is good stuff.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

Archbishop John Nienstedt: I'm Not Gay

Early this month it was disclosed that the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis was investigating claims that scandal-plagued Archbishop John Nienstedt has had "inappropriate sexual relations" with priests, seminarians, and other men. Today the Minneapolis StarTribune asked him point blank:

Nienstedt said he believed that the investigation involved five allegations of sexual impropriety, including from the time he served in the Detroit Archdiocese in the 1990s. The allegations were made by priests and seminarians. The archbishop denied that he was a homosexual or engaged in homosexual acts. "I’m not gay,” he said. “And I’m not anti-gay.” When he led the charge for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota in 2012, he said he was only arguing that marriage should be between a man and a woman. “It wasn’t to put down people with same-sex attractions,” he said. When asked why Catholic priests and seminarians alleged he had same-sex attraction, Nienstedt responded, “I have no idea.” “But I made a lot of enemies by the stands I’ve taken in Detroit and here,” he said. “I assume it feeds into that.” Nienstedt didn’t know when the investigation would be complete. However, when it is, he said it would be sent to the papal nuncio in Washington, D.C., and a “statement will be made.” He didn’t know if the report would be made public.

Nienstedt is refusing to step down despite widespread outrage over evidence that he shielded pedophile priests from prosecution. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the archdiocese and Nienstedt says that other bishops have advised him to consider declaring bankruptcy, presumably in order to evade paying any judgments.

MINNESOTA: Archbishop John Nienstedt Accused Of "Inappropriate Sexual Relations" With Priests And Other Men

Virulently anti-gay Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt is being investigated for having had "inappropriate sexual relations" with priests, seminarians, and other men.

The archdiocese confirmed the investigation, which was first reported by Commonweal, a Catholic magazine based in New York. Nienstedt, 67, said in a separate statement that the allegations “are absolutely and entirely false” and he said he himself authorized the internal investigation, which he called “independent, thorough.” “The allegations do not involve minors or lay members of the faithful, and they do not implicate any kind of illegal or criminal behavior,” Nienstedt said. “The allegations involve events alleged to have occurred at least a decade ago, before I began serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.” Commonweal’s story cites Jennifer Haselberger, former top canon lawyer for Nienstedt, as saying she learned of the investigation when she was questioned by attorneys from the firm that the archdiocese hired, Greene Espel.

Nienstadt said today that the Vatican has been made aware of the investigation. More from Commonweal:

“I have never engaged in sexual misconduct and certainly have not made any sexual advances toward anyone,” Nienstedt told me. “The allegations are a decade old or more, prior to my service as archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis,” he continued, emphasizing that “none of the allegations involve minors or illegal or criminal behavior.” The “only accusation,” Nienstedt explained, is of “improper touching (of the person’s neck),” and was made by a former priest. The archbishop has been under intense scrutiny since September 2013, when Haselberger went public with damning accounts of the way the archdiocese had dealt with clerics accused of sexual misconduct. One of those priests was Curtis Wehmeyer, a man with a history of inappropriate sexual behavior who was nevertheless promoted by Nienstedt to become pastor of two parishes. Wehmeyer went on to molest children at one of those parishes. One of the questions investigators have been asking is whether the archbishop had an unprofessional relationship with Wehmeyer.

In 2012 Nienstedt supported NOM in the failed campaign to place a ban on same-sex marriage into the Minnesota state constitution. The Minneapolis Archdiocese reportedly committed $650,000 to the referendum. (Tipped by JMG reader Father Tony)

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG:  In 2010 Nienstedt ordered that communion be denied to openly gay students. Also in 2010, Nienstedt's archdiocese sent out 400,000 DVDs to Minnesota voters urging that they support anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. In January 2012, Nienstedt ordered all of Minnesota's priests to remain silent if they opposed the coming referendum on same-sex marriage. Later in 2012, it was Nienstedt's ugly anti-gay public letter that launched NFL player Chris Kluwe into the spotlight after Kluwe penned a blistering response in a local newspaper. In September of that year Nienstedt declared that Satan loves sodomy. Also in September 2012, Nienstedt was accused of shielding a pedophile priest who is currently in prison.

MINNESOTA: Christian Group Plans To Cure HIV/AIDS At Twin Cities Pride

A Christian group plans to invade Twin Cities Pride these weekend with hundreds of members who will cure attendees of HIV/AIDS. Yup.

Trinity Works, in coalition with what it says are 30 Twin Cities churches, is planning “Humility 2014,” an infiltration of Twin Cities Pride by outreach workers hoping to convince members of the LGBT community to leave the “lifestyle” as well as their partners, family, and friends, and become heterosexual born-again Christians. The group even had a failed plan to rent out the Gay 90s [nightclub] as a church during Pride. The group says it has about 300 outreach workers scheduled for Pride, and those workers will be based at First Baptist Church on Hennepin Avenue along the Pride parade route. Its leader Steven Uggen told a group gathered in April at The Well, A Living Church in Robbinsdale, that people will be cured of “HIV or AIDS” at the Pride festivities. Uggen says that by healing those with HIV, it will prove to the LGBT community that they should find Jesus and leave “the lifestyle.”

After being cured, here's what the group's leader wants attendees to do: "Go to your doctor, get tested for HIV or AIDS and when you come back negative, you’ve got a decision to make whether you’re gonna serve the God who just healed you." (Tipped by JMG reader Jim)

MINNESOTA: Archdiocese Sued Again Over Claims It Shielded Pedophile Priest

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. Via MPR News:

The lawsuit filed Thursday morning by St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson on behalf of a man in his 50s alleges Kern abused him starting when he was 12 years old while Kern was working at Our Lady of Grace in Edina during the 1970s. The man, identified only as Plaintiff Doe 26, said the archdiocese knew -- or should have known -- that Kern was a child molester before it placed him there. Over three decades, Kern remained in the ministry, even though two families reported to the archbishop and the St. Paul police that Kern abused their sons as early as 1969, just three years after Kern was ordained. One of those boys Kerns was accused of abusing that year was Jamie Heutmaker, who also spoke out today.

Check out this bit:

Heutmaker said he and his friend Charlie Turning and some other children went to Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, where Kern touched their genitals while playing with them in the water. Church memos obtained by St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson show that archdiocese officials were skeptical of Kern's claims that he was simply engaging in what he called "Italian wrestling" -- in which he said men grasp at each other's genitals. But instead of barring him from the ministry, archdiocese officials moved him to another parish.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

REPORT: Archdiocese Of Minneapolis Covered Up For Pedophile Priest

According to a report published today by Minnesota Public Radio, the Archdiocese of Minneapolis covered up for a local priest recently sentenced to prison for child molesting. We all know Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstadt, of course, for his opposition to same-sex marriage, for declaring that Satan loves sodomy, and for advising a parishioner that she will go to hell if she accepts her gay son.

Haselberger opened Wehmeyer's file and realized there was no background check on the priest, even though the diocese had a policy that required background checks for all clergy. Haselberger kept looking, and saw documents that reported Wehmeyer had a sexual addiction and the archdiocese knew about it. She knew that Nienstedt was considering whether to promote Wehmeyer, so she sent him a memo alerting him to review the file. She also attached a copy of the earlier psychological and sexual assessment of Wehmeyer. The priest's personnel file included evidence that Wehmeyer had violated the archdiocese's code of conduct several times. Haselberger assumed that would end Wehmeyer's career as a priest. It did not. While she waited for a response, the archdiocese continued to receive reports on Wehmeyer — three in 2009. In one case, a priest called to say that Wehmeyer had approached him for sex. Someone else reported seeing Wehmeyer acting suspiciously with boys at a campground. Those were the same boys Wehmeyer was later accused of abusing, Haselberger said.

It's quite the story, you should read the full report. (Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

RELATED: Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe famously tangled with Nienstadt last year after that advice about rejecting gay children.

MINNEAPOLIS: Preacher Wins Appeal To Hand Out Bibles At Twin Cities Pride

In a 2-1 decision, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a lower court's ruling that a preacher could not hand out bibles on the grounds of Twin Cities Pride.

Though Johnson, of Hayward, Wis., said he had been distributing Bibles at the event since 1995 without issue, his application to set up a booth at the 2009 event was denied. He was then removed from the festival both that year and the year after. The Minnesota Park & Recreation Board eventually decided to restrict the distribution of literature away from high congestion areas, dubbed “free-speech zones.” One judge issued a dissent, saying that the festival “has encountered problems with literature distributors in the past and has developed a sensible plan for managing those situations” and that the Minnesota Park & Recreation Board “has provided ample alternative channels of Communication.”

Johnson was allowed to distribute bibles for the last two years while awaiting his appeal.

Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate: Vote For Me And I'll Stop Going To Strip Clubs

"Wake the fuck up!" OK, then.

(Via Buzzfeed)

NOM Has The Minneapolis Sadz

Posted today to NOM's blog:

Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak is launching an ad campaign encouraging Wisconsin same-sex couples to come to his town to 'marry'. The campaign, which will start running in Milwaukee and Madison area publications, is already being called a shameless attempt at self-promotion, with the mayor simply using marriage to raise his own profile. Keep in mind, Wisconsin voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2006 that protects marriage as husband and wife in their state. And as Wisconsin Family Action President Julaine Appling reiterates, "Our law would not recognize any validity to those (same-sex) marriages performed in any other state."

NOM must have missed that Rybak is also promoting Minnesota marriages to Illinois.

LAUNCHED: "Marry Me In Minneapolis"

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, seen above officiating at Minnesota's first same-sex wedding, is in Chicago today to launch "Marry Me In Minneapolis," a campaign that invites Illinoisans to visit his city for their gay marriages.

Rybak's message is that Chicagoans no longer have to make a long and expensive trip to the coasts to get married, just the six-hour drive to his city. Many Midwestern gay couples have exchanged vows in Iowa — the only state bordering Illinois that allows same-sex weddings — but Rybak hopes to bring some of that business home with him. "I love Chicago and love to come spend money there, but if people there don't get the rights they deserve, I am more than happy to have them come and spend their money in Minneapolis," he said in a telephone interview before the trip. Rybak figures the campaign, if successful, could help Minneapolis profit on everything from hotel rooms to flowers to caterers. He said he expects the effort to bring in at least tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It's a wonderful campaign, but let's hope the need it fills is short-lived. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

MINNEAPOLIS: Chief Of Police Marries

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau has gotten married in a ceremony officiated by the mayor. Her wife, Holly Keegel, is also a city cop.

They waited a few days to take advantage of the Aug 1 law that gave same-sex couples the right to marry in Minnesota. Chief called me first Saturday because when I interviewed her in June, I asked if they might marry. She told me they would, opening with a joke: “We’ve been together for 25 years but we’re still not sure. I couldn’t be any more married. Now we’ll just make it legal. Of course, we will.” Keegel, who signed off on Harteau calling to giving me the scoop, had told the media-friendly chief this marriage news better not leak out ahead of time. Harteau was actually fine with that. “This is the one thing we wanted to keep private since we are very much in the public eye,” she said.

Marriages Begin In Minnesota

Shortly after midnight local time, dozens of gay couples were married tonight by the mayor of Minneapolis.

Clad in red and black gowns, Margaret Miles and Cathy ten Broeke stood facing each other, smiling through tears in the white-marbled, Minneapolis City Hall rotunda as the clock ticked toward midnight. Seconds later, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak declared: “Margaret and Cathy, by the power now finally vested in me, by the laws of the people of Minnesota, we hereby declare Margaret and Cathy legally married. You may now kiss the bride.”

The two kissed as hundreds of guests erupted in cheers and applause, amid a hall filled with fresh flowers, live music and cases of donated champagne. From Minneapolis and St. Paul to Duluth and Crookston, dozens of gay and lesbian couples tied the knot in the pre-dawn hours Thursday as Minnesota became the 13th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Couples and guests gathered in city halls, a conservatory, the Mall of America, even a bar to be among the first to usher in a new era of marriage equality in Minnesota.

“We are happy to recommit to one another every day, but the opportunity to be the symbol for the community is unequaled,” a beaming Miles said. The ceremonies across the state capped a polarizing and expensive political fight that settled the question of law while leaving Minnesotans still divided over same-sex marriage.

Check out the Star-Tribune for a live blog of the festivities.

TONIGHT: 42 Gay Couples To Marry At Midnight At Minneapolis City Hall

NPR Minnesota reports:

The city of Minneapolis is hosting an extravaganza at City Hall tonight where Mayor R.T. Rybak will officiate at the marriage of 42 same-sex couples. The celebration, which will stretch well into Thursday morning, includes performances by local musicians, a brass quintet and a reception at the nearby Hotel Minneapolis. Rybak staffer Andy Holmaas, who helped organize the Minneapolis event, said everyone from photographers to General Mills, which provided the cakes, have pitched in for free to help make the event successful. "People have been bending over backwards at the slightest ask -- an unbelievable outpouring," Holmaas said. "It's not surprising, but it's still really inspiring to see Minneapolis and the whole region just jump on board to do everything they can."

RELATED: Same-sex marriage also becomes legal tomorrow in Rhode Island.  Westboro Baptist Church claims it will protest both at the state capitol building and later at Providence City Hall.

Last Night In Minneapolis

Via the city's official Facebook page. (Tipped by JMG reader Arnold)

From The Mayor Of Minneapolis

Minneapolis Swears In Lesbian Top Cop

Yesterday Minneapolis swore in its first openly lesbian chief of police.

Janeé Harteau was sworn in as the city's 52nd police chief on Thursday before a crowd of 300 people in the rotunda of Minneapolis City Hall, as Sgt. Holly Keegel, whom she introduced as her "life partner," and their 13-year-old daughter, Lauren, stood by her side. "I will always stand up and do what is right, even if I stand alone," she said in a speech, following the swearing-in ceremony. "There are incredibly high expections for me and there should be." Seated and standing, the crowd included City Council members, police chiefs from a number of Minnesota cities, Minneapolis police officers and other city employees.

JMG reader Robert captions the above photo: "The man on the far right in the photo is openly gay Minneapolis City Clerk, Casey Carl. Also in attendance were two out gay City Council Members; Council Vice President Robert Lilligren (me) and Gary Schiff, as well as the nations first out U.S. Marshall Sharon Lubinski who is a former Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief."