Friday, February 1, 2008

Priest removed for child porn

(Jesus loves the part where Caskey states that he hadn't done anything like this in many years)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - A Roman Catholic priest in the St. Cloud diocese was barred from all priestly functions Thursday after he was charged with possessing child pornography.

The Rev. John Caskey, 53, of St. Cloud, was charged Wednesday in Stevens County District Court with 20 counts of possessing child pornography. Authorities said numerous images of child pornography were found on his home computer, mostly depicting boys.

Bishop John Kinney said in a news release that he immediately removed Caskey from all priestly duties after he learned of the charges by reading about them on the Morris Sun Tribune's Web site.

"I was taken by surprise by these allegations," Kinney said. "I have not received any complaints in the past about Fr. Caskey from any of the parishes he has served, nor have I had any information that would cause me to be concerned."

Caskey had not worked in active ministry since December. He resigned his posts at churches in Morris, Chokio and Herman after Kinney learned Caskey had sent an inappropriate letter to someone.

Court documents said multiple "obscene and suggestive" letters were sent anonymously to an 18-year-old male. In November, during the investigation into the letters, Caskey allowed police to search his home and office computers.

Caskey admitted that he sent the letter but said that he "hadn't done anything like this in many years," the complaint said.

"Consumers of child pornography ruin kids' lives," Stevens County Attorney Charles Glasrud said.

Caskey appeared in court Thursday and was released. Glasrud said conditions of his release include no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, no access to a computer and no pornography.

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