Retired Grand Rapids Priest Removed from Ministry after Sex Abuse Claims
By John Tunison
A 79-year-old retired priest with the Grand Rapids Diocese has been removed from the ministry amid sex abuse allegations stemming from the mid-1980s. Father Charles Antekeier is named in a Friday, Aug. 14 statement from the Diocese. In the statement, Bishop David J. Walkowiak expresses his "deepest apologies" to any children and their families who "have been abused by members of the clergy in the Diocese of Grand Rapids." Antekeier was ordained in 1962 and served at the following churches during the specified years: 1962: St. Charles, Cheboygan 1966: St. Patrick, Grand Haven 1966: St. Mary, Grand Rapids 1972: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Belmont 1977: St. James, Grand Rapids 1987: St. Francis Xavier, Grand Rapids 2000: Senior priest status (Retired) Diocese staff said they were approached in November by a person who talked about incidents that occurred in 1984 and 1985 when Antekeier was at Saint James Parish in Grand Rapids. Details of those incidents, as well as the age and sex of the person, have not been released. Diocese spokesperson Carl Apple said that Antekeier met with the bishop and Diocese staff after the allegations were made, but it's not clear what he said. The Diocesan Review Board examined the claims and made recommendations to Bishop Walkowiak. He then forwarded the case to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a decision to remove Antekeier was confirmed. As part off the ruling, Antekeier is "obligated to lead a life of prayer and penance, and cannot publicly present himself as a priest." A Catholic church charter provides that "for even a single instance of sexual abuse of a minor – whenever it occurred – which is admitted or established... the offending priest is to be permanently removed from the ministry (Article 5)." In addition, dioceses are to be open and transparent in communicating with the public," according to the statement. Officials with the Grand Rapids Diocese say they have reported information about Antekeier to local authorities. Apple late Friday said those authorities are not in Kent County. He would not say which jurisdiction is involved, however. While it's likely the statute of limitations has expired for any possible criminal charges surrounding the allegations, prosecutors say there's a slim window to proceed with charges. Kent County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Becker spoke in general terms about sexual abuse cases. He said if the victim was very young in 1984 and had not turned 21 by 2001 -- the year the statute of limitations was eliminated for the worst sex crimes -- then a case could be pursued. But the incident would have to be classified as a first-degree criminal sexual conduct. To read the statement from the Diocese, go here. Apple, the Diocese spokesperson, said church leaders hope that anyone else who may have suffered abuse related to Catholic clergy to report it to local authorities or the Diocesan victim assistance coordinator at 616-243-0491. E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison
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