Catholic Diocese Removes Priest from Church Serving Cmu for "Boundary Violations"

By Jessica Shepherd
The MLive
July 31, 2015

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2015/07/mount_pleasant_priest_fired_ne.html

The Rev. Denis Heames

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw has removed a priest from the parish serving Central Michigan University after it says he committed "boundary violations."

The diocese announced it had placed the Rev. Denis Heames, who served as parochial administrator for St. Mary University Parish in Mount Pleasant, on administrative leave in early July. The parish serves the campus of Central Michigan University.

According to a statement released by the diocese Monday, July 27, Bishop Joseph Cistone officially removed Heames from his position during the week of July 20.

The diocese has stated the "boundary violations" were not of an illegal nature, though no additional details about the incident or incidents that led to the decision regarding Heames were released.

The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone

Cistone has announced the Rev. Thomas McNamara will provide pastoral assistance to the St. Mary University Parish for the time being. McNamara, a senior priest, will also continue his work as sacramental minister for the Ss. Francis and Clare Parish in Birch Run.

"I am confident that Father McNamara's priestly presence, his warm relationship with people in the area, as well as his kindness and wisdom will be of great benefit to the parishioners at St. Mary University Parish," Cistone said, according to the statement.

The Rev. Thomas Held, who has worked as the parochial vicar for Sacred Heart Parish in Mount Pleasant, will serve as the full time sacramental minister for St. Mary University Parish. In addition, Casey Truelove, Director of Student Outreach for the campus parish, will serve as pastoral administrator pro tem.

The Rev. Thomas McNamara

Cistone said in the statement that the assignments will continue through June 2016, when he plans to appoint a new priest to fulfill the role of parochial administrator.

"I would hope to announce this appointment within the next several months," he said. "In the meantime, Father McNamara, Father Held, Casey, and all parish staff will continue to work closely together to serve the good people of St. Mary and maintain the wonderful outreach to students of Central Michigan University.

jessica_shepherd@mlive.com