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Madeleine Baran

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By authorizing an investigation into his personal life, Nienstedt had hoped to clear his name. Things turned out differently.

Fourteen months before archbishop John Nienstedt resigned this week, a group of his top advisers had decided he should resign. Their unanimous decision was based on sworn statements that accused Nienstedt of multiple occasions of inappropriate behavior that included sexual advances toward at least two priests.  Rather than resign last year, Nienstedt chose to curtail and diminish an investigation that he ordered to address rumors and accusations about himself. By the time of his eventual resignation on Monday, the investigation into Nienstedt's private life had cost the archdiocese hundreds of thousands of dollars and had destroyed Nienstedt's reputation among clergy.   MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota Public Radio reporter Madeleine Baran about what was happening behind the scenes and why it matters.

MPR News reporter Madeleine Baran discusses the story with host Cathy Wurzer

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Courtesy Florence Craye | Creative Commons via Flickr

Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens reads statement

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Alex Kolyer for MPR

Minnesota Department of Corrections

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio

An isolated Nienstedt tried to limit investigation into himself

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