Frank Keating and the Catholic church

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Former Governor Frank Keating says a clergyman in his own archdiocese tried to undermine him by circulating a letter accusing him of keeping a mistress. <br><br>The former governor

Wednesday, October 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Former Governor Frank Keating says a clergyman in his own archdiocese tried to undermine him by circulating a letter accusing him of keeping a mistress.

The former governor also says the clergyman stated that he never attended Mass.

Keating claims the letter eventually made its way to top US church leaders. In an article he wrote for the conservative church magazine ``Crisis,'' Keating says he was ``stunned and outraged'' by the allegations.

Keating resigned this year as head of a Roman Catholic Church watchdog panel on church sex abuse after he angered many in the church by saying bishops were as secretive as the Mafia.

The vicar general of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City says he's unaware of any contact from Keating about such a letter. But he declined to comment further when asked if he was denying that he wrote the letter.