Group accuses Tulsa church Victory Christian Center of damage control

TULSA (AP) -- A clergy abuse watchdog group is accusing a Tulsa megachurch of doing damage control to protect the ministry's image instead of showing concern for a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly raped on its property.

Barbara Dorris, the outreach director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Thursday that ministers at Victory Christian Center "put their reputation ahead of the safety of the children."

Five Victory employees are facing misdemeanor charges of waiting two weeks to report the alleged rape. They've pleaded not guilty.

Last week, an attorney representing two of the employees argued that misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse against his clients should be thrown out because no one in the case has been, nor can be, charged with child abuse under Oklahoma law.