Anti-Gay Minnesota Archbishop Steps Aside After Sex Abuse Allegation

I have said time and time again that the more vocal and vitriolic a homophobe is the more likely that they are a closet case with desperate yearnings for the very gay sex they publicly condemn.  The rule holds true whether the outspoken anti-gay bigot is a politician or a high church cleric.  Seemingly, a case in point is Minnesota's Archbishop John Nienstedt (pictured at right) who after engaging in almost unprecedented anti-gay activities has now been accused of sexual improprieties himself.  John Becker at The Bilerico Project has coverage.  Here are column excerpts:

Archbishop John Nienstedt, the notorious opponent of LGBT rights who heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, announced today that he is voluntarily stepping aside in light of an allegation of inappropriate touching. He repeatedly and emphatically denies the allegations.

CBS Minnesota reports:

According to the Archdiocese, Nienstedt is accused of inappropriately touching a young boy on the buttocks during a group photo session after a confirmation ceremony in 2009.

Nienstedt has denied the allegation but will voluntarily step aside from public ministry, effective immediately, while an investigation into the incident takes place.

Once the Archdiocese learned of the allegation, they contacted police. They said in a statement on their website that they are ready to fully cooperate with the St. Paul Police's investigation.

Authorities said the investigation against Nienstedt began around 2 p.m. on Monday -- a day after he publicly apologized and addressed the media regarding sexual abuse allegations involving dozens of priests within the Diocese.

For the past several years, Nienstedt has inserted himself into the battle over civil marriage in Minnesota. He lobbied hard to add a marriage discrimination amendment to the state constitution (an effort that ultimately failed), and fought tooth and nail against the new marriage equality law. A list of his worst anti-LGBT moments is after the jump.

Independent of today's allegations, Nienstedt has been under heavy fire recently over claims that he and other archdiocesan officials covered up sexual abuse and possession of child pornography by priests. 

Even if Nienstedt is cleared of the charges in question, I will continue to believe that the man "doth protest too much."  Any man who is well adjusted and comfortable with his own sexuality and masculinity does not become hysterical about gays.  Self-loating closet cases are a far different matter entirely.

 notorious opponent of LGBT rights who heads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, announced today that he is voluntarily stepping aside in light of an allegation of inappropriate touching. He repeatedly and emphatically denies the allegations.
CBS Minnesota reports:

According to the Archdiocese, Nienstedt is accused of inappropriately touching a young boy on the buttocks during a group photo session after a confirmation ceremony in 2009.
Nienstedt has denied the allegation but will voluntarily step aside from public ministry, effective immediately, while an investigation into the incident takes place.
Once the Archdiocese learned of the allegation, they contacted police. They said in a statement on their website that they are ready to fully cooperate with the St. Paul Police's investigation.
Authorities said the investigation against Nienstedt began around 2 p.m. on Monday -- a day after he publicly apologized and addressed the media regarding sexual abuse allegations involving dozens of priests within the Diocese.

For the past several years, Nienstedt has inserted himself into the battle over civil marriage in Minnesota. He lobbied hard to add a marriage discrimination amendment to the state constitution (an effort that ultimately failed), and fought tooth and nail against the new marriage equality law. A list of his worst anti-LGBT moments is after the jump.
Independent of today's allegations, Nienstedt has been under heavy fire recently over claims that he and other archdiocesan officials covered up sexual abuse and possession of child pornography by priests.

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/anti-gay_mn_archbishop_steps_aside_after_abuse_all.php#F3rjxo8XbJ7diPie.99