Tulsa's Catholic diocese encouraging abuse victims to come forward

Three priests in the Tulsa Diocese have been accused of sexually abusing children. Two will not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations is up; the other has left the country. <br><br>News on

Thursday, September 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Three priests in the Tulsa Diocese have been accused of sexually abusing children. Two will not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations is up; the other has left the country.

News on Six reporter Tami Marler shows where the Catholic community will go from here. Each time a victim comes forward, it's like a pebble in a pool, with ripples that touch 61,000 Catholics in the Tulsa diocese, and their priests. "I love being a parish priest; that's why I became a parish priest, was to be involved with God's people, and it's been like a cloud."

Father Michael Knipe says the past few months have cast a cloud of suspicion over men in the priesthood. "There's been a real sense of hurt from the standpoint of the priests, because since we love what we do, and we know how that is connected to people, to imagine that connection being abused or misused causes great pain and great hurt."

Father Mike has seen the pain and hurt in his role as Judicial Vicar of the diocese. He investigated accusations against two priests, and interviewed the young people who claim they were abused. â€œI've learned to listen to victims differently.

I've had a real appreciation for the pain and the hurt and confusion; how hard it is for them to come forward.â€ While the two priests won't be prosecuted in court. Knipe says the Bishop removed them from their parishes before news stories broke in July. Since then, the learning curve has been steep. â€œIn terms of our diocese, I think the difficult events of the last month have certainly sped up that curve of learning to listen in a new way, of learning to be present and of humbly seeking the help of others when we need that help."

Father Michael Knipe encourages any victim of abuse, whether by clergy, family members or others, to tell someone they trust, and by all means, tell the proper authorities.