Judge: Archbishop Nienstedt and Father McDonough must testify in church abuse case

Leslie Dyste
Pioneer Press
February 16, 2014

A Ramsey County judge ruled Sunday the Archbishop and a former Vicar General still must testify on record about how the church handled clergy sex abuse allegations.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis tried to get last week's ruling against Archbishop John Nienstedt and Father Kevin McDonough put on hold while it appealed. It argued the court doesn't have the authority to order them to testify.

On Sunday a judge threw out the request while also denying a request to delay the release of the names of priests accused of sexual abuse since 2004.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona must release those names by Tuesday.