Priest Who Once Worked in NYC Arrested in Texas on Rape, Sodomy Charges

NEW YORK – A Roman Catholic priest was arrested Friday in Texas on charges of raping a woman two years ago while working in the Brooklyn Diocese.

Cyriacus Udegbulem, 39, a visiting priest from Nigeria, was on a list of about 35 priests that the Brooklyn Diocese gave prosecutors this year because they had been accused of sexual misconduct.

Udegbulem was arrested in Laredo, Texas, where he was living. The bishop of Laredo, James Tamayo, issued a statement saying Udegbulem had worked at the church's health center from March 2000 to August 2001, but that he was not employed as a priest in the Diocese of Laredo.

Udegbulem formerly worked in a parish in the Brooklyn Diocese. The alleged victim said the priest raped and sodomized her during a meeting in 2000, District Attorney Charles Hynes said.

The priest admitted to the diocese that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior, but the woman said she did not want to report the assault, said Frank DeRosa, a diocese spokesman.

The diocese immediately revoked Udegbulem's ability to perform priestly duties in the diocese, and the priest left a few days later, DeRosa said.

It wasn't immediately know if Udegbulem had obtained an attorney.

In other developments Friday:

— Bishop Thomas O'Brien promised that the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix would move aggressively against any priest accused of sexual misconduct with children. He said he was already removing three priests from the ministry who have acknowledged illicit relationships with minors.

— A Rhode Island judge denied a request by the Diocese of Providence to seal the deposition of a former state police trooper hired by the church to investigate claims of sexual abuse by priests. The diocese has cited "clergy-penitent" privilege in refusing to reveal some statements made by priests to the trooper.

— Three men filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Louisville alleging they were sexually abused as children by a priest. The suit claims church officials were aware of the abuse but did not remove the priest, who has since retired. Archdiocese officials would not comment on the suits.