Catholic Archbishop Resigns Over Sex Abuse Scandal

06:20

June 15, 2015

Archbishop John Nienstedt talks with a reporter at his office in St. Paul, Minn. after a law firm hired by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis finished its investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct with adults by Archbishop Nienstedt, Wednesday, July 30, 2014.(Craig Lassig/AP)

The Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis has taken the extraordinary step of resigning from his position, amid a clergy sex abuse scandal.

Nienstedt's departure comes 10 days after prosecutors filed criminal charges against the archdiocese, accusing church leaders of failing to protect children after repeated complaints of sexual abuse.

Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche also handed in his resignation. Neither acknowledged any wrongdoing, but said that their continued presence had become a distraction to the church.

Minnesota Public Radio reporter Madeleine Baran received a Peabody Award for a radio documentary examining the role of the archbishop and his predecessors in shielding priests from abuse. Here & Now's Robin Young talks with her about what this resignation means for the Catholic Church in the Twin Cities.

Madeleine Baran's audio documentary "Betrayed by Silence"

Guest

Madeleine Baran, reporter at Minnesota Public Radio. She tweets @madeleinebaran.

This segment aired on June 15, 2015.