Robert Warner & Safiya Merchant

Battle Creek Enquirer

The controversial former Minnesota archbishop who came to Battle Creek to assist the Rev. John Fleckenstein is departing immediately, St. Philip Catholic Church parishioners were informed Thursday.

A letter from Fleckenstein to parishioners dated Thursday said Archbishop John Nienstedt chose to leave in the face of concerns from churchgoers, and Fleckenstein agreed.

Nienstedt had resigned last summer as archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis,10 days after the archdiocese was criminally charged for its leaders' handling of allegations of sexual abuse by its priests. One, Curtis Wehmeyer, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two boys and possessing child pornography; he's serving a five-year prison sentence.

A longtime friend of Fleckenstein, Nienstadt offered to help out at St. Philip while Fleckenstein underwent health treatments. He was to serve here for six months.

Archbishop: Reports of past job 'misleading'

Some parishioners expressed concern about the safety of children in the church in the presence of a leader who had resigned in the face of the Minnesota scandal.

In his letter to parishioners today, Fleckenstein wrote:

"I wish to inform you that Archbishop John Nienstedt has decided to discontinue his pastoral assistance for St. Philip Parish, effective immediately. After discussions with the Archbishop conveying the expressed concerns by the faithful people of our community, he offered to withdraw from the diocese and I agreed. Archbishop Nienstedt has a deep concern for the Church, and in light of the unintended discord that his presence was causing, he decided that this would be the best course of action so the Church can remain focused on its mission. At the same time, the Archbishop shared with me the deep gratitude he has for the hospitality he received from so many of our parishioners."

Accused archbishop at St. Philip

The letter continues:

"A very regrettable circumstance of Archbishop Nienstedt’s presence within our community has been anger and fear. I’m proud of the good works of our parishes and our Catholic schools as well as our valuable place in our community. I wish for us to continue growing and striving. My hope is that we can move forward together.

"I wish Archbishop Nienstedt well and I know many of you do as well. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, as called for by Pope Francis, I pray we may find peace, support, and healing for ourselves and with each other, and that we continue to care for all people with charity."

David Clohessy, the director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Thursday that any move that keeps Nienstedt away from "vulnerable parishioners" is positive but "it should not be his choice."

"Catholic officials have a moral duty to protect the vulnerable and we don't believe Nienstedt belongs in ministry anywhere," Clohessy said. "And putting him in ministry rewards and encourages reckless, callous and deceitful behavior about children's safety."

In a separate letter to the people of the Kalamazoo Diocese, the Rev. Paul J. Bradley, bishop of Kalamazoo, wrote that he regretted the "disunity, fear and hurt to many of you" since word of Nienstadt's arrival Jan. 6 spread through the community.

"I should have foreseen the full impact and strong emotional reaction to his presence in the Diocese," Bradley wrote.

"For the hurt this situation has caused and the fears that have been raised, I am truly sorry and ask your forgiveness," Bradley wrote.

Clohessy said community members' reaction to Nienstedt's arrival was rational, not emotional.

"Logically and prudently, people don't believe in giving those who commit or conceal sexual misdeeds positions of power," he said.

Battle Creek Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Brenda Hunt, who has previously criticized Nienstedt's placement at St. Philip, said Thursday that she is very pleased the decision of Nienstedt leaving St. Philip has been made.

Hunt also said she thinks there are opportunities arising out of these events.

"I also think it creates an opportunity for all of us to educate ourselves and learn and perhaps come together closer," Hunt said. "What I mean by that is I think it's an opportunity to reach out to see if there's anything we can do to help the church during this shortage, Catholics and Protestants alike perhaps."

Hunt also said she's spoken with area sexual assault services, adding she thinks the St. Philip events offer up an opportunity for the community to educate itself on topics like survivors and child sexual molestation "so that we can use the experience that we just had to heal and to become even better, particularly when it comes to protecting our children."

Parishioner Samantha Pearl said her first reaction to the news that Nienstedt is leaving St. Philip was relief.

"As anybody would know, I strongly believe it was the right thing to happen," Pearl said. "I was honestly a little heartbroken that the church should have to be pushed to make that decision, but I'm relieved that they did and my hope is that we can now move forward in rebuilding the trust and I know that's the desire of the pastoral leadership as well."