3 Ohio priests defrocked, accused of sexual misconduct with minors

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Archdiocese says three of its priests put on administrative leave years ago after allegations of improper behavior with minors have been defrocked by Vatican officials.

The archdiocese said today that Thomas Kuhn, Thomas Feldhaus and Ronald Cooper are permanently removed from the priesthood. They had served as priests in southwest Ohio, but were barred from performing priestly acts while on leave.

Thomas Kuhn was put on leave in 2002 and later convicted of misdemeanor charges including public indecency. He served 30 days in jail for violating his probation.

The other two were put on leave at least a decade ago after allegations of touching children years earlier. An archdiocese spokesman says they weren’t charged.

The archdiocese wouldn’t provide the priests’ contact information and no public listings were found.