Second sex abuse claim made against former Oklahoma priest
The Associated Press and The Oklahoman - November 18, 2018 9:40 am
(Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City says it has received a second credible accusation of child sexual abuse against a former priest.
The Oklahoman reports that a spokeswoman for the archdiocese said Friday that church officials have received a letter that accuses former priest Benjamin Zoeller of sexual assault in the early 1970s. Zoeller was a priest at Our Lady’s Cathedral in Oklahoma City at the time.
Zoeller was removed as a priest in 2002 and was defrocked by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
The archdiocese in August received a separate letter accusing Zoeller of abusing a teenage boy in the 1980s.
An ensuing investigation by the archdiocese determined that Zoeller was volunteering at a church in Oklahoma City, and blocked him from volunteering at any archdiocese location.
