Religion and Faith

Archdiocese hires Los Angeles firm to review priest files
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has hired a Los Angeles-based consulting firm to review the personnel files of all its priests, as part of the church's approach to dealing with allegations of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct.
American Indians balance native customs with Christianity
Many misconceptions can be found of Native American spiritual practices. For America's indigenous people, late 19th century Christianity meant forced assimilation and cultural domination. And generations later, Native Americans who chose Christianity are sometimes said to have "sold out."
Photos: Ministry unites spiritual customs of indigenous communities with Christianity's traditions
All Saints' Episcopal Indian Mission in Minneapolis is a tiny church -- services average about 20 attendees - and one of just a handful of ministries in the country that unite the spiritual customs of indigenous communities with the religious traditions of Christianity.
Church leaders qualify promise to name priests who sexually abused children
Archbishop John Nienstedt said on Friday that the Twin Cities archdiocese would release names of priests who have sexually abused children. A day and half later, church officials added caveats.
Attorney Jeff Anderson on Catholic abuse developments
Archbishop John Nienstedt announced he will release the names of some priests who are known to have abused children. Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul attorney who has represented many victims of clergy sexual abuse, joins The Daily Circuit.
Archbishop pledges to release names of priests who sexually abused children
The list will be limited to living priests who still reside in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and who have been determined by the archdiocese to be guilty of abuse. Archbishop John Nienstedt did not say how many names would be released.
Abusive priest hid in plain sight for years, retired quietly to New Prague
A retired priest who admitted to sexually abusing several young boys and a teenager on a South Dakota American Indian reservation now lives less than a block from a school in New Prague, Minn. Three archbishops and other leaders of the Twin Cities archdiocese kept Clarence Vavra's past a secret, moving him 17 times during his 38-year career. Today, Archbishop John Nienstedt acknowledges that "serious errors were made by the archdiocese in dealing with him," and pledges to disclose the names of other priests who have abused children.
Dozens of gatherings dubbed "atheist mega-churches" by supporters and detractors are springing up around the U.S. after finding success in Great Britain earlier this year. The movement fueled by social media and spearheaded by two prominent British comedians is no joke.