No parole for ex-priest with Utah ties

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has denied parole for a former Roman Catholic priest with Utah ties who is serving 40 years in prison for molesting two boys.

James Rapp, 67, pleaded no contest in October 1999 to two molestation charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on each count.

His parole request was denied Monday, according to the board's Web site. Deputy Director J.D. Daniels was not immediately available for comment.

Rapp was transferred to Assumption Catholic Church in Duncan in 1991 and was pastor when he was accused of molesting the boys. He belonged to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, based in Toledo, Ohio.

A woman claimed her son was sexually abused by Rapp as a fourth-grader at age 10 and that the abuse continued as late as 1998. The boy accused Rapp of touching him outside of his clothing.

The victims' families filed lawsuits against the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and others alleging church officials had prior knowledge of Rapp's history with children. One lawsuit was settled for a reported $1 million and the other for more than $5 million.

Before his transfer to the Duncan church, Rapp was accused of molesting two students at Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Mich. He had to leave his job and undergo about a year of treatment, authorities said.

In Utah, two brothers claim they were sexually abused by Rapp between 1970 and 1975 when he was at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City.

Ralph and Charles Colosimo stayed silent until The Washington Post published a story about Rapp in 2002.

In 2003, they filed an $80 million lawsuit against him and others, contending church and school officials knew about his behavior but were more concerned with protecting institutions than children.

In March, the Utah Supreme Court said the brothers waited too long to sue.