What is clergy sexual abuse and how does it happen?

ST. CLOUD (MN)
St. Cloud Times

February 18, 2018

By Stephanie Dickrell

Clergy sexual abuse is when a member of clergy uses his or her position and power to exploit, harm, and sexually abuse a member of their congregation.

The recent arrest of the Rev. Anthony Oelrich, a Catholic priest who has worked in the Diocese of St. Cloud since 1992, has the community asking a lot of questions.

What happened? How did it happen? Who’s at risk?

Oelrich is facing a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after he was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with an adult to whom he was a spiritual counselor.

Bishop Donald Kettler removed Oelrich as pastor of the Newman Center and suspended his priestly faculties, which means he cannot function or present himself as a priest.

Oelrich has not been convicted of a crime.

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