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Priest Charged after Allegedly Raping Man

NBC 25
February 27, 2017

http://nbc25news.com/news/local/priest-charged-after-allegedly-raping-man

A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexual misconduct has been charged.

Rev. Sylvestre Obwaka was charged Tuesday with first degree criminal sexual misconduct using force causing personal injury and third degree sexual misconduct using force. If convicted, Obwaka faces up to life in prison.

The incident allegedly happened Feb. 1 while a 28-year-old man was staying at Obwaka's house in Rogers City.

According to the Michigan State Police, the 28-year-old man alleges that Obwaka sexually assaulted him while he was sleeping.

Members of St. Ignatius Parish were in court to support Obwaka and said they are shocked to hear the allegations against their pastor.

“I can’t believe it," said Dawn McMahon, a member of the church. "We go to his bible study, and I mean this is not the man we know. There is no way, and I’m an ex-school teacher so I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly and there is now way I believe the allegations.”

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by this situation,” stated Candace Neff, diocesan Director of Communications in a news release. “There is a great deal of hurt and confusion right now. We are focused on providing pastoral support to all those affected and are working closely with St. Ignatius parishioners as they continue their ministries both within their parish and in the wider community,” she said.

“I am heartbroken over the events that have unfolded in recent days,” Bishop Raica said in a news release. “Our faith calls us to ensure the dignity of each human person is upheld in every circumstance. We must respond with compassion when anyone is harmed. We must also remember that in our system of justice, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he noted. “It is very early in this process and while the matter is in the civil courts we will need to wait patiently for the outcome.”

“These are difficult days,” Bishop Raica concluded. “In these moments, we must turn to Christ who always walks with us and accompanies us in our pain. I ask for your prayers for all those affected by this situation.”

Radio station WHSB says Bishop Steven Raica discussed the matter Sunday night with members of St. Ignatius Church in Rogers City.

Obwaka, a native of Kenya, has been pastor at St. Ignatius since July 2013. He's been a priest since 2010.

Obwaka is currently held behind bars without a bond pending further court proceedings.

Obwaka is scheduled to be back in court for a pretrial Feb. 28.

Read the full statement from the Diocese of Gaylord below:

 

 

 

 

 




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