OMAHA, Neb.: A priest who once worked in Nebraska is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct before he was ordained, the Omaha archdiocese announced today.

The Rev. Patrick Henry, 66, had been serving as pastor of St. Christine Parish in Euclid, Ohio, until June, when he was placed on administrative leave because of a complaint filed with the Omaha archdiocese.

The archdiocese said in a news release that Henry was accused of ''sexual misconduct with a minor'' in the mid-1970s, before he was ordained as a priest. Details of where that alleged abuse occurred were not available today.

The case has been referred to police. It was also under review by the Vatican. The Diocese of Cleveland said Henry was cooperating with the investigation.

A message left Friday for Henry at St. Christine was not immediately returned. No other number for him was listed.

Henry, who is originally from Cleveland, served as a seminarian intern at Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk in fall 1980, according to church officials. He later served as pastor at St. Columbkille Parish in Papillion and then St. Michael Parish in South Sioux City before transferring to Ohio in 1994.

The archdiocese said it has decided to alert the public of the ''credible'' allegations against Henry because he once served as one of its priests.


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