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2 Minn. Priests Take Unrelated Leaves Of Absences

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced that two Minnesota priests have both taken unrelated voluntary leaves of absence from their parishes.

On Sunday evening, the archdiocese released two statements in regards to Father David Barrett and Father Paul Moudry's decision.

Barrett has chosen to take a leave of absence as a result of "prior misconduct which occurred many years ago and did not involve members of any parish in which Fr. Barrett has served," and did not involve a violation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, according to the archdiocese.

Barret had been serving as an assistant priest at the Church of Saint Wenceslaus of New Prague since 2009.

Moudry's decision is unrelated, according to the archdiocese, but of a similar vague description, according to the statement, which states it was his decision "as a result of prior misconduct which occurred many years ago and did not involve members of any parish in which Fr. Moudry has served." It was also not in violation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Moundry had been serving as pastor of St. Margaret Mary in Golden Valley since 2001.

Both will not be performing any public ministry and cooperate with the Ministerial Standards Board of the Archdiocese, which will make recommendations as a result of a review of their actions, according to the Archdiocese.

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