Archbishop Nienstedt will not be charged after being accused of touching boy

[Elizium23]

My opinion was that someone was making up a story to discredit the Archbishop. I know at schools today teachers are discouraged from giving a student even a “pat on the back” to say “good job” or even hug a young child who is crying. Thirty years ago, a “pat on the back” or a hug from a youth minister was considered acceptable.

It is the position of my diocese that a frontal hug is a boundary violation and should never be used. “Side hugs” are permissible. Yet this rule about frontal hugs is more honored in the breach, I see them all the time.

 

[jilly4ski]

First, I’m going to give the victim the benefit of the doubt here - that someone contacted him on the posterior. Whether it was an accident, a prank, or intentional, I suspect some sort of contact did occur.

Next, the victim perceived he was groped, and did the correct thing - he told his parents. If my kids were in a situation like that, I would want to know (even if the contact was truly unintentional). The victim perceived that the touch came from the Archbishop. Whether or not it actually did doesn’t matter, because it should have been reported based on that perception.

His mother did the right thing in reporting it to her priest, who also did the right thing (per the guidelines I remember) to report it to authorities (the article questions if he did so in a timely manner, but that’s not germane to this discussion). The Archbishop was removed from active ministry while an investigation proceeded, per the USCCB guidelines. The allegations were found to be dubious, no charges were filed, and he has returned to ministry.

Bottom line here: The system worked like it is supposed to.

I am not. The victim may have perceived himself to have been touched (not groped, the individual himself said that he did not feel violated by the contact). But how would he have know it was the Archbishop? He obviously accused the Archbishop by name. The person is also no longer a minor. Average age of confirmation in the Archdiocese is 17. This event occurred 4+ years ago (usually happens during the Easter Season at the Cathedral), which means the accuser is well into his 20s. The priest who reported this incident was also investigated, because there is a 24 hour reporting rule. (To ensure that the priest reported the incident within the appropriate time).

 

[phil19034]

What’s next, “While shaking my hand, Father X placed his other hand on top of mine. I think it was trying to hit on me.” ???



I looks like today, in the United States, we are innocent until proven guilty unless you are a Catholic Priest.