NEWS

Michigan group aids priests accused of sex abuse

The Detroit News
Mary Rose Maher, the daughter of Opus Bono Sacerdotii co-founder Joe Maher, holds a photo of her as a child with her parents in Detroit on June 12. Opus Bono ' s finances came under scrutiny after authorities were contacted by a once-loyal employee - Mary Rose - who began questioning the way money was spent.
Mary Rose Maher, the daughter of Opus Bono Sacerdotii co-founder Joe Maher, holds a photo of her as a child with her parents in Detroit on June 12. Opus Bono's finances came under scrutiny after authorities were contacted by a once-loyal employee - Mary Rose - who began questioning the way money was spent.
Paul Sancya, AP
This is the exterior of a former location for Opus Bono Sacerdotii in Dryden, Michigan. For nearly two decades, the group has operated out of a series of unmarked buildings in rural Michigan, providing money, shelter, transport, legal help and other support to Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse across the country.
This is the exterior of a former location for Opus Bono Sacerdotii in Dryden, Michigan. For nearly two decades, the group has operated out of a series of unmarked buildings in rural Michigan, providing money, shelter, transport, legal help and other support to Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse across the country.
Paul Sancya, AP
This is the current headquarters of Opus Bono Sacerdotii in Dryden, Michigan.
This is the current headquarters of Opus Bono Sacerdotii in Dryden, Michigan.
Paul Sancya, AP
This is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto, in Detroit. In the years before the Rev. Eduard Perrone helped start Opus Bono Sacerdotii, he and Assumption Grotto took in at least two priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct at dioceses in other states - including one who later admitted to molesting as many as 50 children in the 1980s and 1990s, according to court documents in Texas.
This is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto, in Detroit. In the years before the Rev. Eduard Perrone helped start Opus Bono Sacerdotii, he and Assumption Grotto took in at least two priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct at dioceses in other states - including one who later admitted to molesting as many as 50 children in the 1980s and 1990s, according to court documents in Texas.
Paul Sancya, AP
The Rev. Eduard Perrone conducts a choir during a Mass at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit on June 9. Perrone was a co-founder of a small nonprofit organization called Opus Bono Sacerdotii which has provided money, shelter, transport, legal help and other support to priests accused of sexual abuse.
The Rev. Eduard Perrone conducts a choir during a Mass at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit on June 9. Perrone was a co-founder of a small nonprofit organization called Opus Bono Sacerdotii which has provided money, shelter, transport, legal help and other support to priests accused of sexual abuse.
Paul Sancya, AP
The Rev. Eduard Perrone talks to a reporter in Warren, Mich., on June 7. In July, Detroit ’ s Catholic archdiocese removed Perrone, one of Opus Bono Sacerdotii ' s co-founders, from public ministry after a church review board decided there was a “ semblance of truth ” to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. Perrone told the AP that he “ never would have done such a thing.
The Rev. Eduard Perrone talks to a reporter in Warren, Mich., on June 7. In July, Detroit’s Catholic archdiocese removed Perrone, one of Opus Bono Sacerdotii's co-founders, from public ministry after a church review board decided there was a “semblance of truth” to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. Perrone told the AP that he “never would have done such a thing.
Paul Sancya, AP
For 25 years, the Rev. Eduard Perrone presided over the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto. In July 2019, his parishioners were shocked when Perrone, 70, was removed from ministry after a church review board decided there was a resemblance of truth to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. He told The Associated Press he never would have done such a thing.
For 25 years, the Rev. Eduard Perrone presided over the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto. In July 2019, his parishioners were shocked when Perrone, 70, was removed from ministry after a church review board decided there was a resemblance of truth to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. He told The Associated Press he never would have done such a thing.
Paul Sancya, AP
For 25 years, the Rev. Eduard Perrone presided over the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto. In July 2019, his parishioners were shocked when Perrone, 70, was removed from ministry after a church review board decided there was a resemblance of truth to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. He told The Associated Press he never would have done such a thing.
For 25 years, the Rev. Eduard Perrone presided over the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto. In July 2019, his parishioners were shocked when Perrone, 70, was removed from ministry after a church review board decided there was a resemblance of truth to allegations that he abused a child decades ago. He told The Associated Press he never would have done such a thing.
Paul Sancya, AP
Informational pamphlets for Opus Bono Sacerdotii are displayed with others at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit on June 7.
Informational pamphlets for Opus Bono Sacerdotii are displayed with others at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit on June 7.
Paul Sancya, AP
This is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto, in Detroit. In the years before the Rev. Eduard Perrone helped start Opus Bono Sacerdotii, he and Assumption Grotto took in at least two priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct at dioceses in other states - including one who later admitted to molesting as many as 50 children in the 1980s and 1990s, according to court documents in Texas.
This is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, also known as Assumption Grotto, in Detroit. In the years before the Rev. Eduard Perrone helped start Opus Bono Sacerdotii, he and Assumption Grotto took in at least two priests who had been accused of sexual misconduct at dioceses in other states - including one who later admitted to molesting as many as 50 children in the 1980s and 1990s, according to court documents in Texas.
Paul Sancya, AP
Mary Rose Maher, the daughter of Opus Bono Sacerdotii co-founder Joe Maher, visits a former Opus Bono location in Oxford, Michigan, June 5. In a February 2017 letter to the state attorney general, she wrote, a simple investigation into the Michigan nonprofit charity Opus Bono Sacerdotii would bring to light the millions of embezzled dollars, years of mail fraud, and the constant systemic abuse of donations.
Mary Rose Maher, the daughter of Opus Bono Sacerdotii co-founder Joe Maher, visits a former Opus Bono location in Oxford, Michigan, June 5.  In a February 2017 letter to the state attorney general, she wrote, a simple investigation into the Michigan nonprofit charity Opus Bono Sacerdotii would bring to light the millions of embezzled dollars, years of mail fraud, and the constant systemic abuse of donations.
Paul Sancya, AP
This photo provided by Mary Rose Maher shows her as a child during her First Communion with the Rev. Eduard Perrone at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit.
This photo provided by Mary Rose Maher shows her as a child during her First Communion with the Rev. Eduard Perrone at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit.
AP
Mary Rose Maher and her fiance, William Chundrlik, visit a former Opus Bono Sacerdotii location in Dryden, Michigan, June 5.
Mary Rose Maher and her fiance, William Chundrlik, visit a former Opus Bono Sacerdotii location in Dryden, Michigan, June 5.
Paul Sancya, AP
Mary Rose Maher and her fiance, William Chundrlik, walk through woods near a former Opus Bono Sacerdotii location in Dryden, Michigan, on June 5. Opus Bono ' s finances came under scrutiny after authorities were contacted by a once-loyal employee - Maher, the daughter of co-founder Joe Maher - who began questioning the way money was spent.
Mary Rose Maher and her fiance, William Chundrlik, walk through woods near a former Opus Bono Sacerdotii location in Dryden, Michigan, on June 5. Opus Bono's finances came under scrutiny after authorities were contacted by a once-loyal employee - Maher, the daughter of co-founder Joe Maher - who began questioning the way money was spent.
Paul Sancya, AP
This undated photo provided by Mary Rose Maher shows her as a child standing with the Rev. Komlan Dem Houndjame at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit. Two years after arriving at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in 1999, Detroit Archdiocese officials said they asked Houndjame to return to his home country, Togo, after learning of accusations of sexual misconduct against him in Detroit and at an earlier posting in Florida. Instead he went to a treatment facility in St. Louis. In 2002, Detroit police arrested him and charged him with sexually assaulting a member of the church ' s choir.
This undated photo provided by Mary Rose Maher shows her as a child standing with the Rev. Komlan Dem Houndjame at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Detroit. Two years after arriving at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in 1999, Detroit Archdiocese officials said they asked Houndjame to return to his home country, Togo, after learning of accusations of sexual misconduct against him in Detroit and at an earlier posting in Florida. Instead he went to a treatment facility in St. Louis. In 2002, Detroit police arrested him and charged him with sexually assaulting a member of the church's choir.
AP