By Charles Honey
Grand Rapids Press
February 23, 2009
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/02/grand_rapids_catholic_diocese.html
 |
| 2009_02_23_Honey_GrandRapids_ph_Pappusamy.JPG |
MASON COUNTY - A West Michigan priest has been removed from two Mason County parishes following an accusation he engaged in "inappropriate conduct in public with an adult," according to the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
The Rev. Johnson Jeyabal Pappusamy submitted his resignation to Bishop Walter Hurley last week, while law enforcement officials continue to investigate, according to the diocese statement Monday morning.
Pappusamy was pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Custer and St. Jerome Catholic Church in Scottville. A temporary administrator will serve those parishes.
Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola confirmed an investigation was ongoing involving Pappusamy, but said he has not been arrested or charged. He refused to discuss details of the accusation.
Michigan State Police detectives in Hart are handling the investigation.
Ordained in India, Pappusamy previously served as parish administrator at All Saints Catholic Church in Fremont and St. Joseph Catholic Church in White Cloud. He was also a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Rockford in 2007.
The diocese has no details of the investigation against the priest, and Bishop Walter A. Hurley will not comment while it is continuing, said spokeswoman Mary Haarman. He will speak to parishioners at St. Mary Catholic Church in Custer tonight.
"We don't want to do anything that would compromise the investigation," Haarman said.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.