MINNEAPOLIS — The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis plans this month to release the names of priests who have sexually abused children, the archbishop said in an open letter Monday.
In the letter posted on the archdiocese website, Archbishop John Nienstedt said that during the month of November he will disclose the names, locations and status of abusive priests who are living in the archdiocese and who have substantiated claims of abuse against them.
Nienstedt said all of these men have been removed from ministry.
It wasn't immediately clear if the new disclosures will go beyond names that are already public through lawsuits or media reports.
Nienstedt and other church leaders have long argued against disclosing the names of priests accused of abuse, saying it wouldn't be fair to those clergy members who have been falsely accused.
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"Serious mistakes have been made in the archdiocese's handling of abuse cases," Nienstedt wrote.
