ST. CLOUD (MN)
St. Cloud Times
February 13, 2018
By Stephanie Dickrell
St. Cloud police arrested a priest who serves in the Diocese of St. Cloud Tuesday morning.
The Rev. Anthony Oelrich, 51, of St. Cloud was arrested at about 10 a.m.
Stearns County Jail records say he was jailed on suspicion of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. A St. Cloud Police Department spokesman said Tuesday night that no further information would be released until Wednesday.
In a statement released Tuesday night, Bishop Donald Kettler said he was notified by St. Cloud police of Oelrich’s arrest following “an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving an adult woman.”
Kettler placed Oelrich on administrative leave from his current assignment. Oelrich is listed as a pastor at Christ Church Newman Center Catholic Student Community on its website.
Kettler also suspended Oelrich from his priestly faculties, which means Oelrich cannot function or present himself as a priest pending the outcome of the judicial process.
“The diocese is cooperating with civil authorities and encourages all victims of abuse to come forward,” the statement from the Diocese of St. Cloud said.
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