Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,
whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him
to punish those who do evil.....
1 Peter 2:13,14
"Five former Catholic priests from Michigan have been charged on multiple counts of rape and assault of minors and adults.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel made the announcement at a press conference Friday morning, detailing the names and allegations against each priest, arrested in the past 30 hours in various parts of the country, but all formerly assigned in Michigan dioceses.
A total of 21 charges of criminal sexual conduct have been filed against the men, with four arrests and another pending extradition, as the fifth priest lives in India.
Father Jacob Vellian, former priest from the Lansing diocese, is being charged with rape of a victim under the age of 16, and continuing his assaults when the victim became an adult. Vellian, 84 years old, is also facing complaints involving sex abuse of nuns in India.
Nessel clarified that they have not yet arrested him, but "we've located him and we'll be making efforts to extradite him."
Two Detroit priests have been arrested.
Father Neil Kalina, formerly of St. Kieran Church in Shelby Township, was arrested on four counts of criminal sexual conduct involving the same victim, who was assaulted at the age of 13, and again between the ages of 13–15. Kalina had gotten in trouble with the law in 1985, at the age of 30, arrested for supplying minors with cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in his rectory.
Kalina was living in California and working as a youth counselor for an initiative called Operation High Hopes.
Another Detroit priest, Fr. Patrick Casey, 53, was arrested in Oak Park, Michigan, for a charge of performing oral sex on the victim during confession, while acting as the victim's spiritual counselor.
Two Lansing priests were also among those arrested.
Father Timothy Michael Crowley was charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct, including raping a child under the age of 16 as well as raping another victim older than 16. Father Vincent DeLorenzo was arrested and charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct. The Lansing diocese said eight people have come forward accusing him of abuse and that he's in the process of being laicized.
Nessel also announced the suspension of a counseling license for Fr. Lawrence Ventline of Detroit, formerly assigned to Sacred Heart in Roseville, accused of sexual assault of an adult. As recently as two weeks ago, Ventline had been working as a clinical psychologist and was actively taking on children as clients. He is also author of a book titled Securing Serenity in Troubling Times.
Ventline's license has since been summarily suspended, and the attorney general's office has filed a complaint to revoke his license permanently.
Ventline was featured on CBS Detroit in 2012 as part of the Inclusive Communities Uniting project, an initiative meant to bring different communities together, commenting at the time that his goal was to "connect, to build trust, (there is) so much mistrust, distrust ... ."
"This is only the tip of the iceberg," the attorney general clarified. "We anticipate many more charges and arrests as we continue to move forward with this work."
ChurchMilitant
whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
or to governors as sent by him
to punish those who do evil.....
1 Peter 2:13,14
"Five former Catholic priests from Michigan have been charged on multiple counts of rape and assault of minors and adults.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel made the announcement at a press conference Friday morning, detailing the names and allegations against each priest, arrested in the past 30 hours in various parts of the country, but all formerly assigned in Michigan dioceses.
A total of 21 charges of criminal sexual conduct have been filed against the men, with four arrests and another pending extradition, as the fifth priest lives in India.
Father Jacob Vellian, former priest from the Lansing diocese, is being charged with rape of a victim under the age of 16, and continuing his assaults when the victim became an adult. Vellian, 84 years old, is also facing complaints involving sex abuse of nuns in India.
Nessel clarified that they have not yet arrested him, but "we've located him and we'll be making efforts to extradite him."
Two Detroit priests have been arrested.
Father Neil Kalina, formerly of St. Kieran Church in Shelby Township, was arrested on four counts of criminal sexual conduct involving the same victim, who was assaulted at the age of 13, and again between the ages of 13–15. Kalina had gotten in trouble with the law in 1985, at the age of 30, arrested for supplying minors with cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in his rectory.
Kalina was living in California and working as a youth counselor for an initiative called Operation High Hopes.
 |
| Fr. Patrick Casey wearing a chasuble featuring Detroit Redwings logo |
Two Lansing priests were also among those arrested.
Father Timothy Michael Crowley was charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct, including raping a child under the age of 16 as well as raping another victim older than 16. Father Vincent DeLorenzo was arrested and charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct. The Lansing diocese said eight people have come forward accusing him of abuse and that he's in the process of being laicized.
Nessel also announced the suspension of a counseling license for Fr. Lawrence Ventline of Detroit, formerly assigned to Sacred Heart in Roseville, accused of sexual assault of an adult. As recently as two weeks ago, Ventline had been working as a clinical psychologist and was actively taking on children as clients. He is also author of a book titled Securing Serenity in Troubling Times.
Ventline's license has since been summarily suspended, and the attorney general's office has filed a complaint to revoke his license permanently.
Ventline was featured on CBS Detroit in 2012 as part of the Inclusive Communities Uniting project, an initiative meant to bring different communities together, commenting at the time that his goal was to "connect, to build trust, (there is) so much mistrust, distrust ... ."
"This is only the tip of the iceberg," the attorney general clarified. "We anticipate many more charges and arrests as we continue to move forward with this work."
ChurchMilitant