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Former Archbishop Who Resigned Over Sex Abuse Scandal Coming to Parish in Battle Creek

A former Minnesota archbishop who was forced to resign in the wake of a sexual abuse and cover-up scandal in his diocese will be taking a new short-term appointment at a church in Battle Creek. 

St. Philip Roman Catholic Church in Battle Creek announced last week that former Minneapolis and St. Paul archbishop John Neinstedt would be serving temporarily as an assistant priest with the parish.

According to Minnesota Public Radio,  Neinstedt resigned from his post last year after prosecutors charged his archdiocese with "failing to protect children." The charges came after years of sexual abuse of children by priests in the archdiocese came to light.

In a bulletinposted on the St. Philip Roman church website, pastor John Fleckenstein said that Neinstedt would "celebrate some of the weekend and weekday Masses, visit the sick in the hospital, visit the sick and homebound, and celebrate Mass for the nursing home and assisted living facilities. He will also celebrate some Masses on Sundays around the Diocese when there is a priest who needs to be away."

Fleckenstein said that he's known Neinstedt for more than 20 years, beginning with Neinstedt's time as pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic church in Royal Oak.

The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo said it had to approve Neinstedt's position, just like it would approve any visiting priest. A statement from the diocese says that Neinstedt met the church's standards as a "priest in good standing," and he is welcome in the diocese for the next several months.

The diocese added that it is "committed to providing a safe environment for people." 

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