Archdiocese of Detroit Determines Mount Clemens Priest “negligent” in Assault Case

By Mitch Hotts
Macomb Daily
September 1, 2014

http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20140901/archdiocese-of-detroit-determines-mount-clemens-priest-negligent-in-assault-case

Rev. Michael Cooney -- File photo

A Mount Clemens priest was “negligent” when he failed to promptly report a sex assault on church property to the police, according to a report by the Archdiocese of Detroit.

The archdiocese on Saturday published the findings of its investigation into the 2011 incident where the Rev. Michael Cooney of St. Peter Catholic Church did not vontact police when he learned a 19-year-old usher had sexually abused a 14-year-old female at a church event.

According to the report, a panel of three canonical, or church law, judges concluded Cooney was “negligent in performing his duties as pastor” at St. Peter “by failing to property report the suspected abuse of a minor in a timely manner” and failing to take measures to protect the teen.

Cooney did advise the girl’s family to report the incident to civil authorities, but he also had the responsibility to notify the authorities once he learned of the suspected abuse, the church panel concluded.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron “deeply regrets” the matter and apologizes for it, according to a news release. Cooney “acknowledged his failure to take proper action” and also apologized, the release stated.

Vigneron issued a personal rebuke to Cooney, required him to make a retreat, and ordered him to write letters of apology to the parish and the family affected by the incident.

Cooney already had served a nine-week suspension in the spring of 2012. He was greeted with a standing ovation when he made a surprise return.

In deciding Cooney’s punishment, the archbishop considered the priest’s 24-year career of “otherwise exemplary program of child protection” at St. Peter Parish. Cooney is a priest in good standing and cooperated fully in the investigation, church officials said.

Michael Lentini, the usher in the incident, was charged by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office with third-degree criminal sexual conduct for performing sexual acts on the girl and served two years’ probation. The two had a relationship but were not dating, according to police.

The teen told a school counselor about the incident, who contacted the police. The teen’s mother also filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office.

The teen’s family filed a lawsuit in Macomb County Circuit Court against Lentini, Cooney and the archdiocese. A settlement was reached in 2013, but details were not released.

A message seeking comment was left at the St. Peter parish offices over the weekend.