Dangerously Antigay Minnesota Archbishop Resigns Over Child Sex Abuse Coverup

A Minnesota Archbishop with a long history of moral crusading against gay people has stepped down from his position amid allegations that his church covered up instances of child sexual abuse.

Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who himself faced charges of alleged same-sex child sex abuse last year, has previously called homosexuality “evil.”

In September 2013, he wrote that Satan was responsible for the passing of Minnesota’s equal marriage laws, not to mention pornography, sodomy and contraception. Because Satan clearly wants gay people to live their dreams, and straight people to have control over their reproduction.

A letter he wrote in 2012 asked Catholics to vote against same-sex marriage, calling it a “man-made social experiment” that would harm children.

That same year, he advised a mother whose son had come out that her own eternal salvation was in grave danger if the boy didn’t accept the Catholic teachings on homosexuality.

Police investigated a 2013 claim against Nienstedt himself, and that’s when he stepped away from all public ministry. But with these new allegations, he’s trying to slump away from the church for good.

Part of his statement read:

I leave with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put in place solid protocols to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

I ask for continued prayers for the well-being of this Archdiocese and its future leaders. I also ask for your continued prayers for me.

PinkNews reports that it is quite rare for the Pope to accept an Archbishop’s resignation, but in this case we hope he makes an exception.