Task force examining church has lawyers, ex-cop

Reginald Whitt
Newly appointed Vicar for Ministerial Standards, the Rev. Reginald Whitt, announces to the media the formation of the Safe Environment and Ministerial Standards Task Force. The new task force will review any issues related to clergy sexual misconduct.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A priest appointed to create a task force to review policies dealing with sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says recent allegations of clergy misconduct are "sickening."

The Rev. Reginald Whitt put together a task force of six lay people to review how church officials have handled accusations of priest misconduct. The task force was convened after one priest pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct last year and another was accused of having child pornography.

Members of the group include Catholics and non-Catholics, as well as lawyers and a former officer. The group plans to come up with a report and recommendations for church officials to follow.

Critics say it won't make a difference because the problem is the behavior of church officials, not policies.

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