Omaha Archbishop Suspends Priest

Omaha Archbishop Elden Curtiss has suspended from the ministry a former assistant pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church who has a federal lawsuit pending against the archdiocese.

The suspension means that the Rev. Ernest Ogugua, who now lives in New York, is temporarily banned from saying Mass or performing any other act of priestly ministry.

The suspension took effect Jan. 7, said the Rev. Joseph Taphorn, chancellor of the Omaha Archdiocese. An announcement by the archdiocese said Curtiss took the step because Ogugua failed to obey an order to return to meet with the archbishop....