MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )
A Maplewood priest, who was charged in November with sexual misconduct, faces more charges. We are glad Father Mark Huberty is being charged with additional crimes. It’s virtually always hurtful – and often illegal – for clerics to have any sexual contact with a congregant.
This is an encouraging move. It is additional evidence that when a priest engages in sexual contact with a parishioner, a very serious moral and legal line has been crossed. Consent can never truly be given when the difference in power is so great. In Minnesota, it is also a felony.
We hope every single person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes – by Fr. Huberty or others, as adults or as children – will speak up. Keeping quiet only helps predators and endangers others.
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