Colorado Woman Says Priest Sexually Abused Her As a Teen

By Kieran Nicholson
Denver Post
March 2, 2016

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29587421/colorado-woman-says-priest-sexually-abused-her-teen

A Colorado woman says she was abused by a Catholic priest about 35 years ago, when she was a student at Denver's Marycrest High School during the 1980s.

The woman has reported the accusation of sexual abuse to the Archdiocese of Denver, which is investigating her claims, according to a Wednesday media release from the Roman Catholic Church.

"The woman first reported the abuse to the Capuchin Franciscans in 2015 and the order's Review Board, which is tasked with investigating complaints of abuse and misconduct by its priests, thoroughly reviewed the matter," according to the release. "Based on the information received, the Review Board has advised that the complaint should be treated as credible."

The priest named in the complaint is Father Ben Colucci, a retired member of the Capuchin Franciscan religious order.

Colucci served the church in Colorado from 1970 to 1993 at Marycrest High School, Annunciation Parish, and the Samaritan House. Colucci hasn't lived in Colorado since 1993, when he was removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of Denver for "reported misconduct."

The release did not detail the alleged misconduct which lead to his dismissal. Marycrest High School closed in 1988.

The woman has reported the allegations to law enforcement, as have church officials, according to the release.

A Denver police spokeswoman could not say Wednesday evening whether there's an ongoing criminal investigating.