Twelve tenured faculty members of the St. Thomas theology department sent a letter to Archbishop John Nienstedt Monday criticizing the archdiocese’s handling of sex abuse by priests.

The letter, which was also released to the public, emphasized the effect the mishandling of the abuse cases had on the church community and suggested steps Nienstedt could take to repair the archdiocese.

“The office of Archbishop itself has been gravely damaged by the facts exposed in the lawsuits. Announcing the creation of another committee or supervisory body can only go partway towards restoring that trust,” the letter stated. “We believe that restoring a trust worthy of your office will only come fully through your personal commitment to developing a more open and immediate relationship with people around the Archdiocese. You need to make a fresh effort to listen to them and to get to know them better.”

The faculty members put forward three suggestions to help Nienstedt heal the church:
–“Leave the legal talk to the lawyers; bring pastoral talk to the people.”
–“Re-introduce yourself to the people and parishes that are our Archdiocese.”
–“Engage lay people in the important work of the Archdiocese.”

“While we support the rights of the victims of sexual crimes to justice and hope that resolutions of the lawsuits will offer appropriate restitution that leads to their healing, we know that no legal decision will heal the damage done to the Body of Christ,” the letter said.

The document went on to discuss the importance of allowing lay people to take positions of leadership within the archdiocese.

“The harsh light now being shone on the inner governance of the Archdiocese makes clear that the problems are not merely personal,” the letter said. “They are systemic, the product of a long-standing and deeply entrenched clericalism that does not have to be the corollary of the ordained priestly ministry.”

Nienstedt responded Monday with a letter of his own, thanking the faculty members for their comments and suggestions.

“I appreciate your interest in helping people draw closer to Jesus Christ and I am grateful for your service to the students of the University of St. Thomas,” Nienstedt said in the letter. “I am grateful, too, for your thoughtful advice and your willingness to share it.”

Nienstedt responded to each suggestion given by faculty members, promoting a series of healing masses for those who feel they have been hurt by the church. Nienstedt also emphasized his desire to connect with members of the church.

“The reason I became a priest was to become involved in the lives of people, and I appreciate every opportunity I have to do so,” Nienstedt’s letter said. “I have met and continue to meet with victims and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, their families and their friends. I am also reaching out to community leaders, ecumenical leaders and parish leaders to talk and learn about how we can be a part of the healing process.”

The faculty members who signed the letter to Nienstedt were Cara Anthony, Bernard Brady, Massimo Faggioli, Paul Gavrilyuk, Michael Hollerich, John Martens, Stephen McMichael, Paul Niskanen, David Penchansky, Gerald Schlabach, Ted Ulrich and Paul Wojda.

Brady, chair of the theology department, said the members who signed the letter felt they had a responsibility to comment on the incidents regarding the church.

“We felt that it was something on an obligation to make a statement,” Brady said. “We didn’t want to come off as grandstanding or morally superior. We wanted to contribute to the healing and the growth of the archdiocese. We wanted to respond in a constructive way and thus the letter.”