Attorney for Christopher Wenthe will argue that the law governing clergy conduct is unconstitutional.
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You do what you have to do to stay out of jail.
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Accused priest acted immorally, not illegally.
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Paul Engh, Wenthe's attorney, filed a motion arguing that the state law prohibiting a clergy member from having sex with a person who is seeking or receiving "religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort in private" is unconstitutional. In court records, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office said the law is constitutional and has been upheld by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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"Any minister who has sex with anybody may be in trouble under this statute," Engh said last week. "It's an overly broad attempt to regulate sexual behavior."
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Ramsey County prosecutors argued that the law criminalizes "exploitive, abusive behavior." Paul Gustafson, a spokesman for the Ramsey County attorney's office, declined to comment, citing the pending hearing.
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"Like statutes prohibiting sexual relationships between patients and doctors, therapists, counselors and social workers, the power imbalance created in the clergy-counselee relationship lies at the heart of criminalizing any sexual relationship that may develop," prosecutors wrote in a memorandum opposing Engh's motion. - StarTribune
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Photo: Chris Wenthe with another prey.
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H/T Natasha Fatale for the story.
