More than a decade after the death of a priest who worked in 17 Detroit-area communities over 40 years, the Archdiocese of Detroit has looked into a sexual abuse allegation against the clergyman and found it to be credible. He died in 2004 at the age of 65.

But church officials "put no time limits on the reporting of sexual abuse of minors" by members of the priesthood or any other personnel connected with churches and related institutions such as parochial schools and seminaries, said Joe Kohn, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Mr. Kohn declined to specify where or when it occurred. They released the information in order to find any other victims and offer them counseling services.

West served in about 20 parishes across southeast MI.

Church leaders said the abuse happened in the 1970s, and the victim was male.

The priest was taught at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, was a minister at Wayne State University and a chaplain at Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods.

The allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was recently brought forward to the Archdiocesan Board of Review, and found to be credible.

Parish assignments for the Rev. David West included serving as administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Temperance; St. Joseph, Maybee; and St. Victor, Rockwood, according to the Archdiocese.