DETROIT – Fr. Alfred Miller last weekend became the latest local priest to be placed on an administrative leave of absence and restricted from any public ministry – at least temporarily – following a credible allegation of sexual abuse of minors.
“Exercising an option available to him the past six years because of health concerns, Fr. Alfred Miller, 64, has requested and been granted senior priest (retired) status. Accordingly, effective July 7, Fr. Miller has resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Temperance,” Ned McGrath, archdiocesan communications director said in a statement that was to be released Thursday.
Pending a resolution of the allegation of the sexual abuse of minor males recently received by the Archdiocese of Detroit, but dating from earlier years of Fr. Miller’s ministry, he will be on administrative leave and restricted from public ministry.
The information has been shared with civil authorities, and Fr. Miller is said to have cooperated fully in the process. Fr. David West has been named temporary administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.
In recent weeks, the archdiocese restricted three other priests from active ministry, as it has continued to respond to allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors in accordance with the zero-tolerance principle set by the U.S. bishops at their Dallas meeting in June, as well as established archdiocesan policy.
In addition, a religious order priest who until two years ago served as associate pastor of a local parish had his ministry inhibited by his provincial.
Msgr. Walter Hurley announced June 30 that Fr. Edmund Borycz, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Livonia, had been placed on administrative leave of absence pending the resolution of credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minor males dating to the early years of his ministry.
Also announced was the restriction from any public ministry of Fr. Jude Ellinghausen, who retired June 15 as pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish, North Branch, and St. Patrick Mission, Clifford, and attained senior priest status.
The action against Fr. Ellinghausen came in response to credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minor males dating back to the earlier years of his ministry.
The archdiocese also released information about Fr. Robert Wyzgoski, who resigned June 24 as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Beverly Hills, and was granted senior priest status. Fr. Wyzgoski was also placed on administrative leave of absence and restricted from any public ministry, following credible allegations of the sexual abuse of minor girls recently brought forward and dating back to the earlier years of his ministry.
Meanwhile, the Crosier Fathers and Brothers announced the removal from public ministry of Fr. Neil Emon, OSC, who served as associate pastor of St. Alfred Parish in Taylor from 1989-2000, following the receipt of more detailed information concerning allegations that he sexually abused minor males in the mid-1970s.
In the case of Fr. Borycz, 61, an allegation was received and considered by the archdiocese in late spring; then, additional information was supplied by civil authorities reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct by Catholic clergy reported in the past 15 years. Fr. Borycz, although strongly protesting his innocence, was said to be “cooperating fully in this process.”
The Detroit Free Press reported July 3 that Jerry Borycz, a private investigator, had presented evidence he claimed showed his older brother was innocent of the allegation against him that Wayne County Prosecutor Michael Duggan announced July 1.
Duggan, a member of St. Michael Parish, apologized to Msgr. Hurley for not turning over the information sooner, but explained that it had been in a file that was sealed back in 1987 before he was prosecutor.
That was, however, a separate allegation from the one reported to the archdiocese, and Duggan has since told local media that a third alleged victim has come forward to say he was abused by Fr. Borycz in the mid-1970s when the priest was at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish in Taylor.
McGrath expressed surprise at the release of so many details by the prosecutor while an investigation was still in progress.
Fr. William Pettit, a senior priest, will fill in at St. Michael Parish until July 20, when Fr. Fr. Ralph Kowalski, also a senior priest, will become temporary administrator of the parish.
Fr. Ellinghausen, 69, was the subject of an allegation received and considered by the archdiocese in late spring, and then additional information was received from civil authorities. Fr. Ellinghausen has denied that he ever abused anyone, but is said to be cooperating fully with the investigation.
Fr. Richard Treml has been appointed pastor of the North Branch parish and Clifford mission.
Fr. Wyzgoski, 69, was also the subject of an allegation received and considered by the archdiocese in late spring, with additional information later supplied by civil authorities. He, too, is said to be cooperating fully as the investigation moves forward.
Fr. Michael Heppen, CSC, has been appointed temporary administrator of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish.
Fr. Emon, 61, since leaving the Archdiocese of Detroit, had served as superior of the Crosier community in central Phoenix and assisted on weekends at Our Lady of Joy Parish in Cave Creek, Ariz.
The Crosiers had first become aware of allegations against Fr. Emon in 1988, and he had undergone a psychological evaluation and treatment at that time. The order recommended him for the assignment at St. Alfred Parish the following year, said his provincial, Fr. Tom Carkhuff, OSC, “based on his psychologist’s conclusion that Fr. Emon could remain in parish ministry with no restrictions.”
But Fr. Carkhuff said that, when more detailed information about those mid-1970s incidents involving Fr. Emon came to the Crosiers’ attention this spring, “it became necessary to remove him.”
The action against Fr. Emon came just weeks after another member of his order, Fr. James Vedro, OSC, was removed as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Trenton.
Fr. Miller was ordained in 1964, and served as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Erie (1964-70); and St. Mary Parish, Monroe (1970-72), during which time he also served the Spanish Apostolate at the Erie parish during the summers and also served as youth counselor at Monroe Catholic High School.
He was named co-pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Allen Park (1972-77); and pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Wyandotte (1977-81). Following a six month sick leave, he was named pastor of the Temperance parish.
Fr. Borycz was ordained in 1968, and served as associate pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish (West Side), Detroit (1968-1973). He was named director of archdiocesan Ministry to the Handicapped in 1973, as well as serving as part-time associate pastor of St. Cyril of Jerusalem Parish, Taylor. In 1975, he became St. Cyril’s pastor.
In 1989, Fr. Borycz was released to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, with which he served until returning to become pastor of St. Michael Parish, Livonia, in 2001.
Fr. Ellinghausen was ordained in 1958, and served briefly as an assistant pastor at St. Mark, Warren, that year. His next assignments as an assistant (later called associate) pastor were at St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe Farms (1958-63); St. Joseph, Port Huron (1963-64); St. Timothy, Trenton (1964-69); St. Gerard, Detroit (1969-73); Holy Cross, Marine City (1973-74); St. Jude, Detroit (1974-79); and again at St. Joseph, Port Huron (1979-86). He had been pastor of SS. Peter & Paul, North Branch, and St. Patrick Mission, Clifford, since 1986.
Fr. Wyzgoski was ordained in 1959, and served as assistant pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Waterford Township (1959-61); Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Harper Woods (1961-66); and St. Christopher Parish, Detroit (1966-72).
He was pastor of St. Suzanne Parish, Detroit (1972-84); St. Veronica Parish, Eastpointe (1984-96); and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Beverly Hills, since 1996.