GAYLORD (MI)
Petosky News
February 6, 2010
By William T. Perkins
A top-ranking vicar in the Diocese of Gaylord and at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish in Petoskey has continued to be active approximately six months after having been accused of sexual harassment against a younger priest.
The Rev. Dennis Stilwell is alleged to have initiated unwanted physical contact with the Rev. Matthew Cowan during the summer of 2015, when Cowan, then 30 years old, was newly assigned to the Diocese of Gaylord. He filed a complaint of the behavior in late August last year.
Stilwell is pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Petoskey.
Candace Neff, spokeswoman for the diocese, said Tuesday that Stilwell had not been suspended from his duties. She said she preferred more time to answer some of the News-Review’s questions and would be following up with additional information over email.
“Following the independent investigation, the Diocesan Review Board (which is also an independent body composed primarily of laity from throughout the diocese) met and concluded that the allegation did not reach the level of credible and substantiated sexual misconduct,” she said in that followup email Wednesday.
A press release Wednesday from Gaylord Diocesan Watch, a newly formed activist group, claimed that Bishop Steven Raica “suspended” Matthew Cowan, the accuser. That group is calling for Cowan to be reinstated. Neff told the News-Review that Cowan had been placed on administrative leave — not suspended — and that his faculties for ministry were withdrawn on Jan. 7, and that the decision was not based on his harassment complaint.
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