More cases of abuse in the Tulsa Catholic diocese

The News on Six has learned of new allegations against yet another Green Country priest. These were made against a Claremore priest. <br><br>The Catholic Diocese in Tulsa says the accusation is that 25

Thursday, August 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The News on Six has learned of new allegations against yet another Green Country priest. These were made against a Claremore priest.

The Catholic Diocese in Tulsa says the accusation is that 25 years ago, a priest engaged in sexual misconduct with two minors. The priest denies the allegations, the church says the matter has been referred to the proper authorities and the priest has taken administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

In the meantime, the criminal investigation continues into former Tulsa priest Ken Lewis. Police have interviewed additional men Thursday who claim the priest abused them in the mid 1990's. Lewis denies all accusations.

In Pryor, the DA could decide by Friday whether to file charges against a former priest there. A teenage girl says the priest molested her, three different times in 1999. That priest was allowed to leave his ministry at Saint Mark's Catholic Church and return to India. He also denies the allegations and according to published reports, is now running an orphanage in his home country.

The detective working that case says a church official told the girl it would not be in her - or the church's - best interest if she came forward. The church denies that.