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

[Elizium23]

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

Archbishop John Nienstedt will return to full duties in the Catholic Church after the Ramsey County attorney’s office found insufficient evidence to support what it called an “unlikely” allegation that he touched a boy’s buttocks after a confirmation ceremony in 2009.

The office began reviewing reports and evidence provided by police in late December and on Tuesday announced that the investigation didn’t support the filing of criminal charges.

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Richard Dusterhoft, the office’s criminal division director, said in a memo that the scenario described in the allegation “seems unlikely.” The allegation accused the archbishop of using a public moment after the confirmation to “sexually touch a random boy openly in front of another clergy member, a deacon, and numerous other confirmands while the confirmands’ family members were preparing to document the moment’’ with photos, Dusterhoft wrote.

Thanks be to God, but the gay lobby’s damage is still done, two months of a practical sede vacante based on someone’s frivolous accusation. Where will it happen next?

 

[po18guy]

Truth to tell, as an investigator for 31 years, this accusation stunk to high heaven from the start. Human behavior is habitual and tends always to follow certain patterns. When I hear an accusation which involves deviations from the normal pattern of human behavior, I become suspicious of the allegation. I call these deviations the “never happens like that” (NHLT) factors. The more “NHLT” factors contained in any given accusation, the more likely it is to be at least partially false, and to have been completely fabricated for a particular purpose.

If we consider the pattern of priestly abuses (or general child sexual abuse), we see that the pattern is generally one of associating with a victim class, then selecting and grooming a particular individual from among them. After this preparatory phase, the perpetrator then arranges for an encounter involving just the two of them in a discrete location. Most such offenders are repeat, or serial offenders. Oftentimes, the suspect has had prior accusations.

In the case of Archbishop Nienstedt, it appears that none of these usual factors was present. Thus, this tends to narrow the situation down to a mentally or emotionally disturbed accuser, one with an agenda, or one seeking a potential financial settlement. Catholic League president Bill Donohue received incredible flak for seeking to identify the accuser in this incident. It looks now as though Bill has good instincts.

 

[VanSensei]

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

Thanks be to God, but the gay lobby’s damage is still done, two months of a practical sede vacante based on someone’s frivolous accusation. Where will it happen next?

We still had a bishop and head of the Archdiocese while he stepped aside, I think the auxillary bishop Andrew Cozzens.

This is not however, a product of the gay lobby, not at all. Just a frivolous accusation now that I think about it.

 

[Marie5890]

Thanks be to God, but the gay lobby’s damage is still done, two months of a practical sede vacante based on someone’s frivolous accusation. Where will it happen next?

Nothing to do with that…

 

[SuperLuigi]

DaddyGirl;11792060]?
What do these child abuse charges have to do with a “gay lobby”?

Isn’t there a desire among progressives for homosexuals and those who engage in homosexual activity to be protected?

I mean, we can’t let a few abused kids (even if it’s not the case here) get in the way of the great utopia where no one will ever feel sad again, can we?

The priest may have made a “frivolous accusation” in your eyes, but these accusations must be investigated.

Even if it might discredit the gay rights movement in some way?

But what does all this have to do with this “gay lobby” you speak of

Why do some American progressives deny the existence of the gay lobby? If it’s so great to promote gay relationships, why do they play deniability?

 

[GraceSofia]

I agree with what Bill Donohue said:

I know of no other leader, religious or secular, who would step down pending an investigation because some guy says he was touched on his behind four years ago in a group photo. It’s time the bishops revised their “zero tolerance” policy. Too often, it means zero justice for the accused, thus undermining the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty.

catholicleague.org/archbishop-nienstedt-deserves-justice/

The whole thing was crazy and should never have been taken seriously.

 

[po18guy]

I haven’t read all the details, you probably know much more than I do…but it sounds to me like they were being over cautious is all. The mom told the priest about it and the priest was…what’s the phrase everyone uses here…“over scrupulous” in doing what he thought was the right thing.

But the Archbishop wasn’t charged with anything, right?
And I read that the accuser himself felt whatever happened was very innocent.

But with the priest reporting it, it got the ball rolling and they had to investigate–especially with the criticisims regarding improper investigation in the past.
It looks to me like it was more like a remark taken out of context…and people then panicking.

But again…why is the OP seeing some sort of “gay lobby” involved here?

.

While there most certainly is a “gay lobby” in existence, it appears that we can dismiss any such activity in this case. This incident, whatever it was, appears to have been a misperception, or a case of an adjacent teenage boy playing a prank.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I agree with what Bill Donohue said:

"I know of no other leader, religious or secular, who would step down pending an investigation because some guy says he was touched on his behind four years ago in a group photo. It’s time the bishops revised their “zero tolerance” policy. Too often, it means zero justice for the accused, thus undermining the legal principle of innocent until proven guilty. "

catholicleague.org/archbishop-nienstedt-deserves-justice/

The whole thing was crazy and should never have been taken seriously.

I agree. I wonder if they ever found out who the accuser was. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out, if there was a group photo, and he was standing next to the Archbishop.

 

[Elizium23]

I don’t think it’s too useful to try and “out” the accuser especially if he is still a minor child. It is not in anyone’s best interest if accusers must live in fear that they will be exposed and publicly shamed. Victims deserve every protection the law and the Church can give. False accusers are not so worthy of the same protection, but the privileged rights of minors and their parents should still be taken into account.

 

[po18guy]

I don’t think it’s too useful to try and “out” the accuser especially if he is still a minor child. It is not in anyone’s best interest if accusers must live in fear that they will be exposed and publicly shamed. Victims deserve every protection the law and the Church can give. False accusers are not so worthy of the same protection, but the privileged rights of minors and their parents should still be taken into account.

Fair enough. It is just that this entire thing had a hint of agenda, based on the distinctly unusual circumstances. If the accuser is innocent and protected, what of the accused? Archbishop Nienstedt will forever have this “accusation” hanging over his head.

 

[GraceSofia]

Archbishop Nienstedt will forever have this “accusation” hanging over his head.

Yes. And the way even the story of this exoneration is being handled by some news outlets seems designed to try to get the mud to stick.

Like this one: Archbishop Nienstedt Won’t Be Charged In Alleged Groping Incident Why not a headline saying he was cleared of the charges?

he attorney’s office decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Nienstedt.

Like… they want the reader to think that actually he committed a crime, but the police didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute. Sheesh.

 

[Elizium23]

Like this one: Archbishop Nienstedt Won’t Be Charged In Alleged Groping Incident Why not a headline saying he was cleared of the charges?
Like… they want the reader to think that actually he committed a crime, but the police didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute. Sheesh.

Because no charges were brought, a headline that said he was cleared of them would be factually incorrect. He was not cleared of any charges. To be cleared of charges you have to answer for them in court and have a hearing. He had none of these. He won’t be charged. I think the headline is fairly self-explanatory, but then again, I know the legal system well. Perhaps a more ignorant reader may perceive it as more sinister.

 

[po18guy]

Yes. And the way even the story of this exoneration is being handled by some news outlets seems designed to try to get the mud to stick.

Like this one: Archbishop Nienstedt Won’t Be Charged In Alleged Groping Incident Why not a headline saying he was cleared of the charges?
Like… they want the reader to think that actually he committed a crime, but the police didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute. Sheesh.

As difficult as it is to do, I simply allow the world to be the world. I have completely disconnected from the -]secular/-] pagan media and am far better off because of it.

 

[GraceSofia]

Because no charges were brought, a headline that said he was cleared of them would be factually incorrect. He was not cleared of any charges. To be cleared of charges you have to answer for them in court and have a hearing. He had none of these. He won’t be charged.

How about his name cleared then?

I think the headline is fairly self-explanatory, but then again, I know the legal system well. Perhaps a more ignorant reader may perceive it as more sinister.

Charmed, I’m sure. :bowdown2:

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

?
What do these child abuse charges have to do with a “gay lobby”?

The child mentioned to his mother what happened during the taking of a group photo, and the mother told a priest.
The priest is the one who reported it to the archdiocese and to the police.

The priest may have made a “frivolous accusation” in your eyes, but these accusations must be investigated.

But what does all this have to do with this “gay lobby” you speak of?

.

So you believe that 100% of the allegations are true? Because I do not. I doubt that even 10% are true, TBH. (The true cases are despicable, obviously).This man’s life was ruined because somebody wanted to make a few bucks. I will stop there, because I am having some very uncharitable thoughts about the accuser.

 

[TMC]

I am confused - which one is being accused here of being part of the gay lobby, the child, his mother, or his priest? Seem to me none of them are likely to be involved in a vast gay conspiracy, but then I don’t really understand conspiracy theory.

 

[tvknight415]

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.

 

[Elizium23]

Five years ago?!

 

[Tigg]

As terrible as it is to be falsely accused, God is blessing His Church even with this. Through trials and affliction, He draws us into holiness as the spiritual masters have testified. Both bodily and interior suffering such as loss of reputation, backbiting, even to be shunned by peers, is the stuff of which saints are made and may the good Lord use this for His purposes. God love the Archbishop and may our Church continue to be purified.

 

[hwriggles4]

I agree. I wonder if they ever found out who the accuser was. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out, if there was a group photo, and he was standing next to the Archbishop.

I am glad Archbishop Nienstedt was cleared. He seems like a strong Archbishop, and I know he is doing some clean up within the Archdiocese since his predecessor (Flynn) retired.

What is sad is had Nienstedt been a Baptist minister, the newspapers probably would never have mentioned this story, or at least buried it on page 24 in the Tuesday edition. Because Nienstedt is a good Catholic bishop, I wouldn’t be suprised if the *Star-Tribune *posted this as front page news.

Nienstedt is strong on being true to the magesterium, which is one thing I like about him. Had an accusation like this happened in Rochester or Albany under Bishops Clark and Hubbard (who I am glad are now retired), I would have liked to have seen Hubbard or Clark dismissed, but newspapers like the National Catholic Reporter( i.e. the National Catholic Distorter or the National Catholic Fishwrap) probably would have defended Clark and Hubbard.

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.