Former Priest Threatens Action against AG

By Bradley Massman
Huron Daily Tribune
May 28, 2019

https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/Former-priest-threatens-action-against-AG-13901631.php#photo-17563429'

A priest who has been temporarily removed from the ministry since 2016, and currently resides in Port Austin, has indicated he wants to sue Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

"A lawsuit will be filed by week's end with the finest prosecuting attorney in MI (Michigan) to sue the Catholic axe-grinding same-gender attracted AG Nessel," Lawrence Ventline stated in an email CC'd to the Tribune on Tuesday.

Ventline, who resides in the Port Austin area, is currently facing licensing action by Nessel's office.

Nessel, on Friday, said Ventline allegedly sexually assaulted a Michigan resident, and is still actively counseling children.

The sexual assault investigation was conducted by Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The Tribune contacted the Oakland County Sheriff's Office on Friday for more information on the incident after speaking with Ventline, who continuously said his case was dismissed in Oakland.

A sergeant with the sheriff's office told the Tribune that Ventline's case was "still pending further investigation."

However, on Tuesday, Oakland County Sheriff's Lt. Dan Toth, told the Tribune that is not the case.

"If that's an error on our part, we apologize for that," Toth said, adding the case is closed.

"The bottom line with us is we opened up an investigation in 2016," he added. "It was closed in early 2017, and we cannot substantiate the allegation. We can't unsubstantiate it."