MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, Nov. 19 2013
Statement by Minnesota SNAP leader Megan Peterson (218-689-9049, Survivor19@live.com)
We are glad Father Mark Huberty faces criminal charges for sexually exploiting a parishioner. It’s virtually always hurtful – and often illegal – for clerics to have any sexual contact with a congregant.
If a criminal embezzles from a bank, no one talks about their “financial relationship.” So no one should ever talk about “a relationship” between a predatory priest and a parishioner. It’s a crime. It should be treated and described as a crime. It should not be minimized or mischaracterized by words or phrases that suggest consent when no genuine consent is possible.
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