A woman has accused the Roman Catholic bishop of Spokane, now president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, of molesting her 40 years ago. The woman reportedly filed a claim in December, Catholic Online said. Her accusation became public this week, shortly before a deadline for filing set by the judge overseeing the diocese’s bankruptcy. Bishop William Skylstad denied any wrongdoing. “I have kept the promise of celibacy that I made when I was ordained a deacon 47 years ago,” he said in a statement issued through the diocesan lawyer, Greg Arpin. Skylstad has been head of the Spokane diocese since 1990 and served as bishop of Yakima for 13 years before that. © Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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