The Worthy Adversary

Catholics who stopped “sitting back and taking it”

Written by

Joelle Casteix

in

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Disgraced former St. Paul and Minneapolis Bishop John Nienstedt
Disgraced former St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt – Out of (another) job

There are two very amazing and interesting aspects of today’s news about disgraced Twin Cities Archbishop John Nienstedt. After national media attention and huge (and righteous) push back from Michigan Catholics, Nienstedt has been forced to leave a temporary position in a Michigan parish.

If you’re just catching up to the story, Kalamazoo Catholic officials didn’t think it would be a big deal for Nienstedt to work in a Battle Creek parish, even though, according to MLive:

Nienstedt and his high-ranking clergy in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St Paul are accused of repeatedly ignoring warnings that went on for years about sexually abusive priests, and of failing to contact law enforcement to report possible criminal acts they knew about. He resigned from his post after the archdiocese was charged with civil and criminal complaints last summer.

There are also five allegations that Nienstedt made sexual advances to seminarians.

But the real news in this story is this: Catholics pushed back. They made it perfectly clear that they didn’t want a priest who covered up sexual abuse (and may not be able to keep his hands to himself) in their parish, period.

Good for them. It’s THEIR church, funded by THEIR donations. It’s THEIR children’s safety. And Battle Creek Catholics aren’t going to let some guy in another city tell them who will baptize their children, marry them, and assume moral authority over their community.

But that’s just part of it …

The other interesting part of this story is how utterly tone deaf both Nienstedt and Kalamazoo Bishop Paul Bradley are when it comes to sex abuse and cover-up.

We live in an internet age, where a simple Google search will tell Catholics far more about their incoming priests than their bishops do. Did Bishop Paul Bradley honestly think that parents were just going to take whatever trash was sent their way? Did he think that they wouldn’t care that Nienstedt was part of the largest sex abuse and cover-up scandal to hit Minnesota?

Does he really think that the faithful are that stupid? Apparently, he does. He also made sure to make it look like they were overcome with hurt and fear.

Actually, they were overcome with intelligence, child safety, and a healthy dose of risk management.

I hope the faithful continue to push back. Over and over and over again.

 

 

Comments

3 responses to “Catholics who stopped “sitting back and taking it””

  1. Gloria Sullivan

    Praise the Lord for these people who finally get it.! Ive been blogging for 15 yrs about whats been going on in the Catholic Church, for I believe, milleniums. We just never found out. The internet and the Movie ” Spotlight” have really put a new face on the RCC, one that people will not put up with. They maybe might even find out other things that are anti- biblical in their church teachings. The new knowledge Ive found has not taken my faith away but made it stronger. I now count on HIM and not the words of men. I am totally into HIS WORD & THE HOLY SPIRIT is my guide. The Kingdom of God Is Within!

    Reply
  2. Not Shocked!

    Most likely, there is some one, some where, very powerful and influential (of course) with roots in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that felt Nienstedt would be protected in his new assignment…. however, one should never underestimate the courage and tenacity of abuse victims, their families and supporters.

    NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT than future protections of all children…. tragically, Catholic church leaders and their attorneys still do not get it and never will. The internet age is here to stay and based on the fact that Nienstedt was part of the largest sex abuse cover up scandal in Minnesota, SHAME SHAME SHAME on those who still believe they are above the law!

    Reply
    1. Gloria Sullivan

      When I hear your words, “there is someone, some where, very powerful and influential. ( of course) with roots in Kalamazoo ?I think of our GOD who must be so insulted by these words ,HE finds HIS,PEOPLE are so slow to learn HIS WAYS. To speak His Words to Him in prayers ,(my same. problem ) instead of blah, blah, on blogs all over the world . I am so convicted of this way of getting my thoughts and fears to be read by someone w h o cares, when I know the most POWERFUL FORCE IS OUR GOD & HE s a id ” bring your concerns to me in Prayer” ” VENGENCE IS MINE THUS SAYETH THE LORD”……CONCENTRATED PRAYER ON THIS scourage of evil in our churrch & elsewhere !This is now going to be my first & most powerful way to obliterate.this evil.

      Reply

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