MINNEAPOLIS — The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Thursday published a list of 34 priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors, following months of criticism that church leaders mishandled such allegations.
Archbishop John Nienstedt, who has come under fire for the way sexual misconduct cases have been managed, said the disclosures are not intended to be final and that the list could be updated after a review of clergy files.
''All clergy feel the shame of the acts of some of their brother priests. 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,'' Nienstedt said in a column in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Spirit.
In 2004, the archdiocese compiled a list of 33 priests deemed to have been credibly accused of sexual abusing a minor.
The list was put together as part of a nationwide study to determine the scope of clergy sex abuse.
A judge ruled this week that the archdiocese had to release all its names by Dec. 17.
The list published Thursday includes all 33 names from the 2004 list as well as the name of a priest recently convicted of child sex crimes.