Archdiocese: Michigan Priest 'Negligent' In Abuse
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — The Archdiocese of Detroit has found a Mount Clemens priest was "negligent" when he didn't promptly report a sexual assault on church property to police.
The archdioceses says an investigation by a panel of church law judges concluded Rev. Michael Cooney of St. Peter's Catholic Church didn't properly notify police in 2011. The panel says Cooney failed to take measures to protect a 14-year-old girl when he learned a 19-year-old usher had sexually abused her at a church event.
Archbishop Allen Vigneron says Cooney has apologized for not taking action. He says he's requiring Cooney to make a retreat and write letters of apology to people involved.
The teen's family filed a lawsuit in Macomb County court against the 19-year-old, Cooney and the archdiocese. An undisclosed settlement was reached in 2013.
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