GAYLORD — A northern Michigan priest was permanently removed from the ministry due to allegations of sexual misconduct relating to incidents which allegedly occurred in the mid-1970s.

In a Feb. 9 news release from the Rev. Patrick R. Cooney, Bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, the Rev. Raymond J. Pilarski, who had most recently been assigned to the parishes of St. Augustine in Hillman and Jesus the Good Shepherd in Atlanta prior to his retirement in 1998, may not perform any public ministry, is prohibited from wearing clerical garb and may not present himself publicly as a priest.

According to the news release Pilarski has denied the allegations. Pilarski, 79, had not been assigned for ministry since 2005 pending an investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct allegations.

The case was investigated and reviewed by the Diocesan Misconduct Review Board prior to being submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, who concurred with Bishop Cooney’s decision to remove Pilarski. Civil authorities were also notified of the investigation in keeping with diocesan practice.

Cooney said the actions taken against Pilarski were in accord with diocesan policies, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and the Essential Norms for dealing with such allegations.

According to the news release, during the past five years dioceses across the country have taken initiative to protect children and improved outreach and response polices, including requiring background checks for those working with youth.

Each diocese is regularly audited for compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children. Cooney has stated the Diocese of Gaylord has been found to be in complete compliance each year it has been audited.

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