KENTUCKY
Cincinnati Enquirer
By Ryan Clark
Enquirer staff writer
A Northern Kentucky priest has been accused of sexual misconduct with a child and removed from parish work.
Rev. Richard Frazier, 55, most recently the pastor at Divine Mercy Parish in Bellevue and St. Bernard Church in Dayton, has been placed on administrative leave while officials investigate the allegations. Frazier denies the charges.
Bishop Roger Foys of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington told members of the churches last weekend of the allegations. Thursday he released a statement explaining that the allegations came to light during the class action settlement process in the sexual abuse lawsuit pending against the diocese in Boone Circuit Court. "All members of the plaintiff class were required by the Court to submit an initial census form providing very basic information about the abuse on which their claim is based.
"I am saddened to report that the forms received as part of this process included allegations of abuse by a priest in active ministry, Father Richard Frazier, prior to his ordination as a priest.