Twin Cities Archdiocese Releases List of 34 Priests Who Allegedly Sexually Abused Minors

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis released a list naming 34 priests who allegedly sexually abused minors, after months of fire from critics that church higher-ups neglected to properly manage the accusations.

Twin Cities Archdiocese John Nienstedt told the Associated Press that the list hasn't been finalized, and might be updated pending an investigation of certain members of the clergy.

"All clergy feel the shame of the acts of some of their brother priests," Nienstedt wrote in a column for The Catholic Spirit. "We deeply regret the pain caused by sexual abuse by members of the clergy, and we remain committed to protecting children and promoting healing for victims. I sincerely pray that these efforts will contribute to the healing process for victims and others who have been harmed, and serve to protect God's children and foster trust in the church."

A judge announced earlier this week that the archdiocese must publicize a list he wrote in 2004 that named 33 priests who were thought to have sexually assaulted minors. The compilation, which was organized as part of a series of probes nationwide to gauge the number of abuse in the clergy, has been released by nearly 24 archdioceses and dioceses around the country.

Although Nienstedt was officially given until Dec. 17 to publicize the names, he instead released the list on Thursday, shedding light on the 33 people named on the 2004 list in addition to four men who had unsubstantiated claims against them and a priest recently convicted of child sex crimes.

Included in the list were the clerics' names, birthdates, years of ordination and parishes in which they served, AP reported.

16 of the 30 men with substantial claims against them have been taken off of the ministry, one is detailed as resigning, 11 have died, and two were defrocked. Most of the claims started in the mid-1950s to the 1980s.

Not all of the details were publicized, but the archdiocese stated full disclosure would come, pending the end of the investigation.