Fr. WestDETROIT — An accusation of sexual abuse of a minor has been found to be credible against a deceased priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, the archdiocese reported Dec. 3.
The Archdiocesan Review Board, which investigates allegations of abuse committed by clergy and church personnel, said the allegation had been brought against Fr. David West, who died in 2004 at age 65 after serving in Metro Detroit parishes for nearly four decades.
According to a spokesman for the archdiocese, the incident in question occurred during the 1970s and involved a male victim.
“The Archdiocese of Detroit places no deadlines or time limits on reporting the sexual abuse of minors by priests, deacons, and other personnel,” a statement from the archdiocese said. Archdiocesan spokesman Joe Kohn said the allegation was being made public to notify parishes and institutions where Fr. West served in order to find other potential victims.
Fr. West, who was ordained in 1964, served a number of parishes and schools during his priesthood, including as an associate pastor Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Harper Woods; St. Anastasia, Troy; St. Andrew, Rochester; St. Dennis, Royal Oak; St. Joan of Arc, St. Clair Shores; St. Matthew, Detroit; as pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods; St. Agatha, Redford; St. James, Ferndale; St. Louise de Marillac, Warren; as administrator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Temperance; St. Aidan, Livonia; St. Basil the Great, Eastpointe; St. Joseph, Maybee; St. Mel, Dearborn Heights; St. Michael, Livonia; St. Victor, Rockwood; and on the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary, as a minister at Wayne State University, and as chaplain at Bishop Gallagher High School.
