GAYLORD (MI)
ChurchMilitant
June 8, 2020
By David Nussman
Moves to parish in another state
A priest who was punished for blowing the whistle on a vicar general is now returning to active ministry.
Father Matthew Cowan, a priest in the diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, complained of sexual harassment by then-vicar general Fr. Dennis Stilwell — filing the complaint in August 2018. Father Cowan went public with the allegations in December 2018, citing the diocese’s failure to act on his claims.
In response to his going public, Gaylord’s Bp. Steven Raica put Fr. Cowan on paid administrative leave in January 2019.
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