Archdiocese Disputes Attorney’s Claims About Deposition

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis is disputing the suggestion that Archbishop John Nienstedt didn't cooperate fully with a court-ordered deposition.

Nienstedt was deposed Wednesday over his handling of clergy sexual abuse allegations. Attorneys who are suing the church said Nienstedt ended the deposition abruptly when he was pressed to turn over more files of credibly accused priests to police.

Archdiocese spokesman Jim Accurso says Nienstedt fulfilled the four-hour deposition ordered by a judge. And Accurso says the archdiocese is making every effort to meet the court's schedule for turning over documents.

Mike Finnegan, one of the attorneys for a man suing the archdiocese, said attorneys prevented Nienstedt from answering some questions. He said attorneys will ask the judge for more time for the deposition.