Another minister charged with sex abuse - Is there no end to these Christian Criminals?

A St. Cloud man whom police say is a retired Lutheran minister was charged Friday with sexually abusing a girl over about eight years.


Arthur James Ree, 82, faces six counts of felony criminal sexual conduct in Stearns County District Court.

The abuse took place repeatedly in Ree's home between 1998 and 2006 but was not reported until this week, according to the criminal complaint.

Ree is a retired minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a former volunteer chaplain with the St. Cloud Police Department, who served from 1997 until 2005, police said.

The allegations are not connected with Ree's role as either a pastor or a police chaplain, said police and ELCA Bishop Jon Anderson.

SARAH LEMAGIE
http://www.startribune.com