The Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis announced the results of a Vatican investigation into its former Archbishop John Nienstedt, who resigned in 2015 amid allegations that he both mishandled allegations of sexual abuse of minors and had himself engaged in improper sexual advances against fellow clergy.
The investigation, conducted under the norms set out in Pope Francis’ 2019 motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi, found that Nienstedt did not engage in any criminal activity but had acted “imprudently”.
The archdiocese announced that the Vatican barred Nienstedt from any public ministry within the province of St Paul-Minneapolis, and also forbid him from living within the province, which includes all ten dioceses in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The Vatican also stipulated that Nienstedt “may not exercise ministry in any way outside of his diocese of residence without the express authorisation of the attendant ordinary and only after the Dicastery for Bishops has been informed”.
Nienstedt, who once served at the Vatican Secretariat of State, had consistently denied all allegations of wrong-doing.
“I have never engaged in sexual misconduct and certainly have not made any sexual advances toward anyone… The allegations do not involve minors or lay members of the faithful, and they do not implicate any kind of illegal or criminal behaviour,” he said in 2014 when the archdiocese announced an investigation.
He also denied knowing about prior cases of sex abuse by clergy, denials that were found to be untrue. For example, Nienstedt denied knowing about allegations against one priest, Fr Kevin LeVan, but records indicated he had approved LeVan to continue in ministry despite allegations he had abused several women.
In another case, Fr Curtis Wehmeyer, who was convicted and sent to jail for abusing one young boy and exposing himself to another, claimed that Nienstedt was romantically interested in him, an interest that was not reciprocated.
After resigning, Nienstedt returned to his native Michigan, where he served briefly as an interim pastor until parishioners objected. He then moved to California and worked for the Napa Institute, an organisation of conservative Catholics founded by real estate lawyer Tim Busch.
In 2018, after Busch promoted a Church reform campaign following the scandal surrounding former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, some voiced scepticism about the Napa Institute’s ability to support this cause while employing Nienstedt. The organisation severed ties with him shortly afterwards. Nienstedt reportedly lives at a house he owns in Michigan.
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