Archbishop deposition on abuse to be made public

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Attorneys for victims of alleged sexual abuse by priests are releasing the deposition of Twin Cities Archbishop John Nienstedt.

Nienstedt is head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. On April 2, he testified about the church’s response to sexual abuse allegations. It was the first time since Nienstedt became archbishop six years ago that he has had to answer these questions under oath.

The deposition was taken as part of a lawsuit filed by a man who claims a priest abused him in the 1970s.

Church lawyers tried to block the deposition, claiming it wasn’t relevant to the case. But a Ramsey County judge and the Minnesota Court of Appeals disagreed.

The archdiocese said earlier that Nienstedt explained under oath that children’s safety is the highest priority.