Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announced today that the Archdiocese of Denver has relieved Father Mel Thompson from active ministry after a complaint of sexual misconduct with a minor.
The incident has also been reported to civil authorities, said Jeanette De Melo, spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
Father Thompson, who most recently served at St. Thomas More parish in Centennial, has been accused of "past sexual misconduct with a minor," according to an archdiocese statement.
Father Thompson has maintained his innocence, the statement said.
The archdiocese received the complaint about Thompson on April 7 and made the decision to release him on April 8.
The alleged sexual misconduct happened in the 1970s. The archdiocese released no addition information on the incident.
During the 1970s, Father Thompson served at St. Rose of Lima, Good Shepherd - formerly St. John the Evangelist, - Immaculate Heart of Mary, and St. Vincent de Paul parishes.
Chaput asked anyone who had concrns about the conduct of Father Thompson - or any other clergy memeber of employee - to contact the diocese.
