MICHIGAN
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
Issued: February 12, 2012
Contact: Ned McGrath, Director of Communications
(work) 313-237-5943 / (home) 313-886-4114
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Following the arrest on Friday of an individual accused of sexual assaulting a minor on the property of St. Peter Parish in Mount Clemens, Bishop Michael Byrnes, auxiliary bishop for the Northeast Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit, read a statement at all four weekend Masses. Speaking on behalf of Archbishop Allen Vigneron, the bishop stated “the archdiocese is appalled this could happen.” He expressed regret— and an apology— to the young woman who brought this complaint forward and pledged that the archdiocese will reach out to her and her family to offer help and promote healing.
While there is no allegation of abuse— none— against the pastor, Fr. Michael Cooney, Bp. Byrnes said the archdiocese does hold him accountable for his response in this case and in providing a “safe environment for children and young people on parish property.” For these reasons, the bishop said, Fr. Cooney, 63, has been temporarily suspended from active ministry. Under this restriction, he is not to perform any public ministry, e.g., offering Masses, sacraments, etc., and is not to present himself publicly as a priest, i.e., wearing clerical garb.
An archdiocesan investigation will now commence. As part of that review, an exhaustive, on-site audit will be conducted of the parish’s adherence to the archdiocesan safe environment policies and practices, with a redoubled focus on building security and retraining of personnel.
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