DES MOINES (IA)
Press-Citizen
By The Associated Press
DES MOINES -- Two former Iowa City priests have been defrocked by Pope Benedict XVI, according to a statement released Thursday by the Diocese of Davenport.
William Wiebler and Paul Deyo had been restricted from active ministry while the Vatican reviewed their cases. The decision by the pope doesn't allow for any appeal.
Wiebler, who is facing several sexual abuse lawsuits, was located in February in Missouri after leaving a treatment program in St. Louis. Wiebler, who served as an assistant pastor from August 1967 to August 1969 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, was been accused of abuse dating to the 1970s and 1980s.
A 2004 report stated that Wiebler admitted to several acts of abuse with several minors. His last pastoral position ended in 1985 in Ottumwa and he retired in 1991.Deyo was accused of sexually abusing a boy in 1998 while serving at an area parish. Deyo served at St. Patrick's in Iowa City from 1991 to 1992, St. Peter's in Cosgrove from 1996 to 1997 and at St. Wenceslaus' from 1998 to 2000. He also taught at Regina High School from 1991 to 2000.
The defrocking of Deyo was voluntary.