Suspended Mt. Pleasant priest replaced

By Rick Mills
Morning Sun
August 11, 2015

http://www.themorningsun.com/general-news/20150811/suspended-mt-pleasant-priest-replaced

A Mt. Pleasant priest suspended last month for improper behavior is not returning to the pulpit and has been replaced.

The Rev. Denis Heames, priest at St. Mary’s University Parish in Mt. Pleasant, was put on administrative leave for inappropriate behavior related to his ministry in early July.

Heames has been replaced by The Rev. Thomas McNamara, a popular priest who served nine years as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Pleasant in the 1990s.

McNamara – who assumes his new role immediately – will also continue serving the SS. Francis and Clare Parish in Birch Run, Bishop Joseph R. Cistone said in announcing the appointment.

“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.

Heames, first placed on administrative leave, has since been dismissed of his appointment at St. Mary’s, Cistone said in the press release.

No additional assignment has been announced for Heames.

“I am grateful to the parish staff members who serve with dedication and enthusiasm,” Bishop Cistone said. “I am especially grateful for the members of St. Mary, who are so dedicated to and supportive of the mission of their wonderful parish.”

Cistone has not shared details on what boundary violations were committed or who was harmed, but assured parishioners and the public that they did not involve children.

“It is important to assure you that these actions in no way involved minors,” Cistone said earlier. “Nonetheless, peoples’ lives have been affected and Father Heames will need to address these matters in a comprehensive way.”

McNamara will be assisted by two other new appointments in serving St. Mary’s.

The Rev. Thomas Held has moved from his role as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart to oversee sacramental ministry at St. Mary’s; and the Rev. Casey Truelove, who has overseen student outreach at St. Mary’s, will assume greater administrative duties in helping to replace Heames.

Cistone said the temporary assignments will continue into next year.

“These assignments will continue until next June, at which time I will appoint a priest as the new parochial administrator,” Bishop Cistone said.

“I would hope to announce this appointment within the next several months. 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.”

Meanwhile, Cistone has not responded to calls for further details about what Hearnes did from a national support group for victims abused by priests.

Parishioners need to know the nature of what the Rev. Denis M. Hearnes did and releasing the facts could also ensure that any potential crimes are investigated, said David Clohessy, director of the Missouri-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

“Saginaw’s bishop owes parishioners and the public more information about a just-suspended priest,” Clohessy said in a press release. “We hope the local Catholic hierarchy will be more honest about the allegations.”

Heames was assigned as parochial administrator of St. Mary’s University Parish in 2012 and also appointed as adjutant judicial vicar for the Diocese of Saginaw. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2008 and his first assignment was as associate pastor at Sacred Heart in Mt. Pleasant.