(MACOMB, MI) The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit says it has temporarily suspended a priest at a Mount Clemens church where a parishioner is accused of sexually assaulting a girl.
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith says that his office charged a 19-year-old man on Friday, Michael Lentini of Macomb Township, with 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct. Smith’s office says that Lentini was acting as an usher at venerable St. Peter Church in Mt. Clemens back in November and December when he allegedly performed a sexual act upon a 14-year-old girl on church property.
The archdiocese says it's "appalled this could happen." It says there are no allegations the Rev. Michael Cooney was involved in an assault but says he's "accountable for his response."
The archdiocese says the 63-year-old priest said in December authorities were investigating a reported sexual assault on the property of St. Peter Parish.
In a letter to parishioners Sunday, Bishop Michael Byrnes says the archdiocese questions why Cooney didn't make a prompt police report.
Lentini, who was an usher at the church, allegedly performed the sexual acts on the girl, said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham; the two had a relationship, but were not boyfriend and girlfriend. The girl confided in a counselor at St. Mary School, who reported the incidents to authorities. She wasn't a student at the school.
Her mother later filed a complaint with the sheriff's office, Wickersham said.
The archdiocese said on Sunday that Fr. Cooney 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.
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