ARLINGTON (VA)
CBS DC
ARLINGTON, Va. (CBSDC/AP) — A Catholic priest from Fairfax County who served as director of his diocese’s Office of Child Protection and Safety has been placed on leave after he was accused of sexual misconduct in the 1990s involving an underage boy.
The priest, Rev. Terry Specht, denies the allegation, the Diocese of Arlington said. Specht has been pastor at Holy Spirit Church on Woodland Way in Annandale since 2007.
He also served as chaplain and assistant principal at Paul VI Catholic High School from 2000 to 2004 and was director of the child-protection office from 2004 through 2011. Among other duties, that office conducted background checks on diocese employees who could come into contact with children and provided training to diocese workers.
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