Priest Prohibited from Fundraising in Diocese of Lansing

SNAP
July 19, 2019

http://www.snapnetwork.org/priest_prohibited_fundraising_diocese_lansing_jul19

We are grateful that Lansing's bishop has "prohibited a priest from raising funds in his diocese.”

Bishop Earl Boyea has also notified the priest's direct supervisors in a Toledo-based religious order, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. (It’s headed by Father Ken McKenna, 419-724-9851, mckenna@oblates.us. The Lansing diocese is at 517-342-2440.)

Lansing church officials say they've gotten reports of concern about the "finances and activities" of Fr. William Auth and his nonprofit, Maya Indian Missions. "From time to time, Fr. Auth has lived within the diocese and has solicited on behalf of Maya Indian Missions within the diocese," the bishop writes, while also disclosing that he "has withdrawn (Fr.) Auth’s faculties to serve as a priest within the diocese. Additionally, the diocese has forwarded the concerns regarding Maya Indian Missions and Reverend Auth to the Michigan Department of Attorney General for further investigation."

Catholics deserve to know their donations are truly helping the needy. We urge anyone with suspicions or information about Fr. Auth's alleged wrongdoing to contact law enforcement.

CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)