A priest that formerly served the St. Timothy parish in Maple Lake parish resigned his most current post in Maplewood on Tuesday, Nov. 19, after he was charged with having a sexual relationship with a married woman who had sought spiritual counseling from him.
Fr. Mark Huberty, 43, was placed on leave on Sept 19 from his work as pastor of the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and has been charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He had previously worked in St. Anthony and Maple Lake before moving to the Maplewood parish in June of 2007.
According to the Star Tribune, Huberty met the woman in 2008 when she was struggling with her faith after the death of a family member. Eventually, a physical relationship ensued and Huberty assured her that their sin was only a venial one, not a mortal one.
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently upheld a state law prohibiting clergy members from having sex with the people they counsel, opening the way for legal charges against Huberty, who has not been arrested and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Huberty is the second priest who formerly served the Maple Lake parish to be implicated in sexual misconduct this year. In July, retired priest John Brown, who served in Maple Lake and Waverly among other places, was accused by a former Waverly man of molesting him while the accuser was a young boy. Other individuals were also allegedly molested by Brown in the community.
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