Vatican Won't Comment On Alleged Cover Up

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Vatican is declining to comment on an internal church document that indicates the Vatican's emissary in Washington interfered with an investigation into alleged misconduct by the former archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The newly released memo from the Rev. Daniel Griffith, one of the archdiocese's key leaders for ensuring the safety of children, accuses the apostolic nuncio of ordering Minnesota church leaders to wrap up the investigation into Archbishop John Nienstedt without pursuing all leads. Griffith also accused the delegate at the time, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, of ordering two auxiliary bishops under Nienstedt to destroy a letter in which they disagreed with Vigano.

A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Thursday that "the situation is complex" and that the Vatican needs more information before commenting.