A Catholic priest charged with child rape has claimed that it was “simply a misunderstanding” and that it “happened by accident”.

John A Sarro was charged by a grand jury earlier this week in Delaware, the first time the US state has brought criminal molestation charges against a Catholic priest.

The 76-year-old is accused of first-degree unlawful sexual intercourse and second-degree unlawful sexual contact.

He is accused of having oral sex with a girl younger than 16 more than 25 years ago.

"I can't recall all the circumstances, but it was simply a misunderstanding," Mr Sarro told The News Journal of Wilmington.

Mr Sarro’s indictment alleges he “intentionally” touched the girl’s breasts, and engaged in “sexual intercourse” and “oral sex”.

He said: "It was a simple matter of me being involved. I wasn't really involved with anybody."

He added: "It was something that happened by accident."

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Wilmington Diocese spokesperson Robert Krebs said an “adult survivor” made the allegations in 2011, but would not give the church permission to go to police at the time.

Mr Sarro was identified by church officials in 2006 as one of 20 local priests with "admitted, corroborated or otherwise substantiated" allegations of sexual assaults against children against them, The Journal reported.

The current charge is thought to be unrelated to the 2006 claims.

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