Archbishop Paul S. Coakley writes to Catholic faithful, list of credibly-accused priests provided, statement on Fr. James Mickus provided

Note: On October 3, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City sent  the following letter to “Brothers and Sisters in Christ” concerning an investigation of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy.  In this posting, his letter is followed by supplemental materials, including a list of the 11 priests named in the final report conducted by McAfee & Taft, a major law firm, and a statement about a priest removed from duties in the archdiocese. Access to other sources of information is available in the link at the end of this post. 

October 3, 2019 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

My heart breaks to have to write this letter. Events of this past year, beginning with revelations of the scandal surrounding then-Cardinal McCarrick followed by the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report, have sent shock waves throughout the Catholic Church in America. We are challenged to face again the crisis of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults at the hands of clergy, and examine how we have dealt or failed to deal with this societal scourge within our Church. 

The long and the short of it is you trusted us, and we failed. Though we have made significant progress on many fronts since the 2002 publication of the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” we must do better. 

I want to begin by expressing my profound sorrow and most sincere apologies to each person who has ever been a victim of sexual abuse by anyone representing the Church. I also am sorry for the complicity and negligence of those who failed to respond adequately to reports of abuse, for whatever reason, whether they are bishops, priests, deacons, religious or lay persons representing the Church.

The effects of such abuse have had devastating consequences far beyond individual victims and survivors. Marriages, families and parishes have been adversely impacted. I have had the painful and humbling experience over the past few months of meeting and speaking with clergy sexual abuse survivors as well as their parents and spouses to hear firsthand how devastating this sin – this crime – has been. In each of those meetings or conversations, my purpose has been to listen, to express sorrow and to offer support to those who have been traumatized by this evil. 

As a bishop, I also have been grieved for the countless faithful, dedicated and generous priests who have faced ridicule and suspicion because of the terrible crimes of their brothers. This too is a bitter fruit of this injustice. 

I recognize the damage that has been done to the faithful whose trust and faith have been shaken by the sins of their leaders. In response to the deterioration of trust that clergy sexual abuse represents, a new level of transparency and accountability is required to demonstrate the seriousness of our commitment to creating and maintaining safe environments and addressing the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy. 

As a next step in restoring trust through greater transparency, I ordered a review of our priest personnel files by an independent law firm. Accompanying my letter, you will find a report detailing the cases of substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. You also will find information providing the answers to many questions that might arise. 

As part of its investigation, the law firm has reviewed hundreds of files of priests who have ministered in the archdiocese since 1960. 

The archdiocese also provided full access to all records, including electronic files. In addition, we already have begun the process of reviewing files of priests who ministered in the archdiocese prior to 1960. 

As the graphics demonstrate, we have made progress in that the number of substantiated instances of abuse has dropped dramatically since 2002 for which I am grateful. But, we must do more and remain vigilant in our fight to do all we can to protect our most vulnerable. 

Please continue to pray for the healing and purification of the Catholic Church and especially for all who have ever been victims of abuse by those who represented the Church. Please pray for your priests, deacons and seminarians. Please pray for me. 

If you or anyone you know has been abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Church, please call the Archdiocesan Pastoral Response Hotline – (405) 720-9878. With the assurance of my continued prayers, I am 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley 
Archbishop of Oklahoma City 

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Fr. James Mickus removed from ministry 

Based on the investigation and report issued by independent law firm, McAfee & Taft, and at the recommendation of the layperson-led archdiocesan Review Board, Archbishop Paul Coakley announced Thursday [October 3, 2019] he will not return Father James Mickus to ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows in Chandler and Saint Louis in Stroud. 

Archbishop Coakley suspended Father Mickus in November 2018 after an initial review of his priest file revealed an unresolved allegation of abuse of a minor. The files were turned over to McAfee & Taft, which conducted an independent investigation that included priest files, electronic files and interviews. 

Following the investigation, McAfee & Taft included Father Mickus on a list of priests who have a substantiated allegation of abuse of a minor between 1960 to 2019. The allegation against Father Mickus stems from the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

He will no longer be assigned as a priest in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. 

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The names of the 11 priests listed in the law firm report are given below. 

Father Thomas Behnke, O.C.D., Father David Armstead Cowden, Father Stephen Cude, Father Mathias Faue, David B. Imming, Father Francis Albert Mantica, Father James Mickus, Father Rocco Perone, Father Edward Prather. James Francis Rapp and Benjamin Zoeller. 

Other sources of information, including the charts and other background referenced in Archbishop Coakley’s letter, are available at this link:  https://archokc.org/clergyabusereport