Acquitted priest wants archdiocese to pay legal costs

A Twin Cities priest acquitted of sexual misconduct last year wants the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to reimburse him for more than $46,000 in legal costs.

In December, a jury found the Rev. Mark Huberty not guilty of two counts of sexual misconduct. He had been charged with having a sexual relationship with a woman with whom he also had a pastoral relationship.

In a claim filed in federal bankruptcy court, Huberty, who is still a priest, wrote that he was seeking reimbursement "as a matter of equity."

"The charges brought against me related to the exercise of my professional role as priest and pastor within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis," Huberty said. "Since then, there have been several charges, both civil and criminal, brought against the Archdiocese and individual priests and bishops related to the professional roles, and it is widely known that their legal expenses have been paid for by the Archdiocese."