Vatican defrocked Kansas City-area priest before he died

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Catholic officials say the Vatican defrocked a Kansas City-area priest four days before he died in December.

The Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese says it was notified that the Vatican had rejected an appeal by Michael Tierney of his dismissal from the priesthood. The decision was made Dec. 11.

Tierney died Dec. 15.

Tierney worked in several Kansas City-area parishes before being removed from pastoral duties in 2011.

In 2019, the diocese named him on a list of clergy it said had been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

Several lawsuits also were filed against Tierney, who consistently denied wrongdoing,