Priest accused of molestation speaks out in court

A Claremore priest accused of molesting two boys 25 years ago has denied the allegations in court. <br/><br/>The Reverend Paul Eichhoff testified in the first day of trial in his slander lawsuit against

Wednesday, October 13th 2004, 6:02 am

By: News On 6

A Claremore priest accused of molesting two boys 25 years ago has denied the allegations in court.

The Reverend Paul Eichhoff testified in the first day of trial in his slander lawsuit against his accusers. One of his alleged victims is countersuing for emotional damages.

Kelly Kirk says Eichhoff molested him and another boy twice in the late 1970s when he was a student at Saint Mary's Church in Tulsa. Eichhoff was associate pastor at the church until 1978.

Kirk, now 36, says the memory was repressed until therapy in 2000.

Eichhoff says Kirk's allegations have damaged his reputation and life.

The reverend was suspended from his duties as pastor of Saint Cecelia Church in Claremore in 2002 when the allegations surfaced. He was reinstated after a church review board ruled the allegations were baseless.