DETROIT (AP) — A Catholic priest has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for aggravated assault on a younger man who wanted counseling.
The victim told a judge Wednesday that he approached the Rev. Patrick Casey in 2013 because he “needed a shepherd” but that the Detroit-area priest did nothing to help him.
Casey was accused of engaging in sex acts with the younger man, who was struggling with his Catholic faith and homosexuality and was suicidal. Casey at the time was a priest in Westland.
He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in October after a jury said it was having trouble reaching a unanimous verdict on a felony charge. The Detroit Archdiocese says it learned about the allegations in 2015 and banned Casey from any form of church ministry.
He was charged after documents were turned over last year to the attorney general’s office.
Anyone who has been victimized by a member of the Catholic church can confidentially report it to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office online or by calling 844.324.3374 during regular business hours. The state also has a hotline for all victims of sexual assault that offers support and resources: 1.855.VOICES4 (864.2374).
