By Tammy Stables Battaglia
Detroit Free Press
November 2, 2011
http://www.freep.com/article/20111102/NEWS03/111102026/Catholic-priest-Gary-Schulte-can-t-be-charged-in-alleged-sex-abuse?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
 |
| The statute of limitations has expired on an allegation against Father Gary Schulte that he sexually abused a teen in 1991. The Archdiocese of Detroit says it will continue investigating the case. |
The Archdiocese of Detroit said it will continue its investigation of a Warren priest despite the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office determination that the statute of limitations has run out to review allegations of abuse stemming from the early 1990s.
Oakland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton said the allegations against Father Gary Schulte, 66, pastor of St. Sylvester Parish in Warren, are too old under the law to pursue legally.
"If someone comes up with other assertions that are not otherwise barred, we'll look at them," Walton said today.
The Archdiocese of Detroit placed Schulte on administrative leave of absence and restricted him from public ministry effective Oct. 28. Walton said a man in his 30s said he was inappropriately touched by Schulte in Madison Heights in 1991 when the alleged victim was 16. Schulte served as pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Madison Heights from 1983 until he became pastor of St. Sylvester in 1994, according to the Catholic diocese Web site.
The archdiocese forwarded the complaint to the prosecutor's office after the man came forward in September, according to a statement issued by the church.
Archdiocese spokesman Joe Kohn said today that Schulte will remain on leave as the organization's investigation continues.
"What the prosecutor does or doesn't do doesn't impact the archdiocese's own process," Kohn said. "The allegations that were brought forth we found are of sufficient substance, but that's only the beginning of the process. We continue to investigate the matter."
Schulte has not commented publicly about the allegations. Schulte's sister, Gail Schulte, told the Free Press on Sunday that she does not believe the allegation and said that her brother would never do something like that.
The church restricted Schulte's duties after an initial investigation by the Archdiocesan Review Board found the complaint "to be of sufficient substance," according to the church's statement. Schulte is not allowed to publicly celebrate the Mass or sacraments or present himself publicly as a priest. Father Thomas Sutherland, a retired senior priest, will serve as temporary administrator of St. Sylvester Parish.
The Archdiocese of Detroit ordained Schulte in 1972. He served at Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Beverly Hills, Macomb County Community College and National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak before becoming pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer, according to the church.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.