Vatican defrocks 3 priests — a decade after allegations
The Vatican defrocked three Cincinnati-area priests because of sexual misconduct with children that occurred more than a decade ago.
The decision Tuesday permanently removes the men from the priesthood and is the final step in the Roman Catholic Church's slow, methodical process of evaluating abuse cases and handing out discipline.
All three priests — Ronald Cooper, Thomas Feldhaus and Thomas Kuhn — had been on administrative leave for years and had been barred from saying Mass and performing any priestly acts. The Vatican's move to dismiss them "from the clerical state" means they can never again present themselves as priests....
Dr. Alan Cairns | 8/3/2009
