St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt denies allegations PAUL, Minn., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Most Rev. John Nienstedt, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Tuesday denied touching a boy inappropriately. Nienstedt has voluntarily stepped aside from public ministry while St. Paul police investigate the allegation he touched a boy on his buttocks during a group photo session following a confirmation service in 2009, the archdiocese said in a release posed on its website. "The steps taken in response to the allegation against the archbishop demonstrate and reaffirm the archdiocese's commitment to disclosure," church officials said in the statement. In a letter he called "difficult" to write, Nienstedt said he learned this past weekend a "young man" to whom he administered the sacrament of confirmation has alleged "he believes I inappropriately touched his buttocks during a public photo session following the ceremony." I have never once engaged in any inappropriate contact with a minor and I have tried to the very best of my ability to serve this archdiocese and the church faithfully, with honor and due regard for the rights of all, even those with whom I disagree. I have taken strong stands on the moral teachings of the church and been criticized for it. I would not have done so if I did not believe those teachings and was personally bound to living up to them in practice. True, I am a sinner, but my sins do not include any kind of abuse of minors. I have met victims and I know the lasting damage that such abuse causes. Nienstedt said he normally stands for such photo sessions with one hand on his crozier -- a staff -- and the other either on the right shoulder of the newly confirmed or on his pallium -- a short stole -- hanging from his chest. "I do that deliberately and there are hundreds of photographs to verify that fact," the archbishop said. He expressed his hope the investigation into the youth's allegations can be "thorough but quick." "I already long to be back in public ministry -- to be able to serve as the Lord has called me to serve," he wrote. I regret this will be my last column until the present investigations are complete. These days will give me the time to pray for you and the individual involved. I ask that you pray for me too.