Phoenix, Ariz., Aug 7, 2017 / 11:37 am
Bishop Thomas O'Brien, the former bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, has denied allegations he sexually molested a young boy in the late 1970s and early '80s.
"Bishop O'Brien categorically denies the allegations," the diocese said Aug. 3. "According to Diocese of Phoenix records, Bishop O'Brien was never assigned to any of the parishes or schools identified in the lawsuit, and no specific information has been presented which connects Bishop O'Brien to the plaintiff.
Bishop O'Brien, 81, is accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing the alleged victim several times at parishes in Phoenix and Goodyear, Ariz. from 1977-1982.
His accuser, now 47 and living near Tucson, has said he started having flashbacks of the abuse in September 2014 as he prepared for his son's baptism, his lawyer Tim Hale told the Associated Press.