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The parishioner, Michael Lentini of Macomb Township, was arrested Friday, Feb. 10, and arraigned in 41-B District Court inClintonTownshipon a charge of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 10-year felony, in connection with the case.
Lentini was released on $20,000 unsecured bond pending preliminary examination.
While the investigation is under way, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Michael Byrnes, who oversees the Northeast Region of the archdiocese, has been named administrator of St. Peter Parish.
“The archdiocese is appalled this could happen,” Bishop Byrnes told parishioners, speaking on behalf of Archbishop Allen Vigneron.
In making the announcement at that Sunday’s Masses, Bishop Byrnes emphasized that no allegations of sexual abuse had been made against Fr. Cooney. Neither has Fr. Cooney been charged with a civil crime.
However, according to Bishop Byrnes, the archdiocese does hold Fr. Cooney “accountable,” and questions why “…having been informed of this alleged conduct, he failed in his response to protect the victim, in promptly reporting what he knew to law enforcement authorities, and to provide a safe environment for children and young people on parish property.”
Michigan’s Child Protection Law and the role of the mandated reporter are among the items covered the in the archdiocese’s Protecting God’s Children program, a required training seminar for all clergy, parish, and school personnel to make them aware of the signs of child sexual abuse and steps they can take to help prevent it.
Bishop Byrnes expressed regret — and an apology — to the alleged victim and said the archdiocese would reach out to her and her family to offer help and promote healing.
Under the terms of his temporary suspension, Fr. Cooney, 63, is not to perform any public ministry — for example, offering Mass or the sacraments — and is not to present himself publicly as a priest by wearing clerical garb.
Bishop Byrnes told parishioners that Fr. Cooney’s suspension “does not mean that he has been cut off from any benefits — health, financial, etc. — those provided to his brother priests.”
“And it does not mean he has been permanently restricted or removed from priestly ministry. It does mean he will remain on suspension until the archdiocese concludes a full and thorough review of this matter,” he added.
Fr. Cooney was ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1975.
The statement from the Archdiocese of Detroit said its investigation would include an exhaustive, on-site audit of the parish’s adherence to archdiocesan safe environment policies and practices, with a redoubled focus on building security and retraining of personnel.
