OKLAHOMA CITY – In the wake of the grand jury report on clergy abuse in Pennsylvania, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City received a letter from a former resident of Oklahoma who reported being abused by a priest of the archdiocese in the 1980s.
In the letter dated Aug. 17, the former resident reported abuse suffered in 1985 at the hand
s of former priest, Ben Zoeller. Once the allegation was received, Archbishop PaulCoakley ordered a review of the former priest’s file as well as an independent investigation, which is ongoing.
The review of the file found credible allegations of abuse by Zoeller. He was removed as a priest in 2002 and was laicized in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI.
The brother of the former resident reported Zoeller’s abuse of his brother in 2006. He was referred to the vicar general and a victim assistance coordinator. The vicar general also provided information to contact a detective in the Oklahoma City Police Department Sex Crimes Division. The brother talked by telephone with Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, who apologized for the crimes committed by Zoeller and offered to fund counseling in his brother’s current state of residence, if desired. No further contact was included in the file.
Archbishop Coakley expressed profound sadness upon receiving the letter and apologized for the abuse suffered at the hands of a former priest. Along with the continued investigation, Archbishop Coakley asked the archdiocese to contact the former resident to assist him with the effects of these egregious acts. The allegation also has been reported to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the Oklahoma County District Attorney.
To report incidences of abuse in the past or present, contact the Abuse of Minors Pastoral Response Hotline at
(405) 720-9878. Under Oklahoma law, all individuals must report an incident or suspicion of sexual abuse of a minor (person under age 18) to civil authorities. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has established a statewide abuse reporting hotline –
(800) 522-3511. A report to the archdiocese does not relieve the individual of the duty to report child abuse to civil authorities as required by state law.