Oklahoma priest removed from ministry amid investigation into sexual abuse of minor claim

KOCO News
November 05, 2018

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-priest-removed-from-ministry-amid-investigation-into-sexual-abuse-of-minor-claim/24640622

An Oklahoma priest has been removed from ministry pending an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse against a minor, according to officials with the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

The archdiocese's review board is looking into an allegation made against Father James Mickus, who currently serves as the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chandler and Saint Louis Catholic Church in Stroud. The allegation does not include Mickus' current parishes, officials said.

Mickus has served at the following parishes in Oklahoma:

• Saint Joseph, Bison
• Our Lady of Sorrows, Chandler
• Saint Francis Xavier, Enid
• Chaplain, Vance Air Force Base, Enid
• Mission of Saint Ann, Fairview
• Chaplain, Oklahoma State Reformatory, Granite
• Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hollis
• Chaplain, Lexington Correctional Center
• Sacred Heart, Mangum
• Saint Philip Neri, Midwest City
• Saint Joseph, Norman
• Christ the King, Oklahoma City
• Saint Patrick, Oklahoma City
• Saint Mary, Ponca City
• Saint Louis, Stroud

The allegation also is being reviewed by McAfee and Taft, an independent firm hired by the archdiocese to review and investigate allegations of abuse by priests from 1960 to 2018.

An administrator will be assigned to the churches in Stroud and Chandler, according to officials.

Anyone who has been abused by Mickus or any other priest in Oklahoma is urged to report any incident to the archdiocese's Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline at 405-720-9878. More information about safe environment protocols in churches and schools or resources for parents can be found online.