LANSING, MI (WTVB) – A priest who served many years ago at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Coldwater was one of 17 priests accused by the Catholic Diocese of Lansing Friday of sexually abusing minors.
The names of the priests who have been credibly accused of abusing minors since the diocese was founded in 1937 were released by Bishop Earl Boyea.
Among them was Revered John Slowey, who was ordained in 1940 and died in 1983 at the age of 68.
He served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Charles. There are no reports of incidents while he served in Coldwater.
Besides Coldwater, Slowey served parishes in Dowagiac, Flint and Battle Creek. He was also director of the Catholic Services Bureau in Lansing.
The Lansing State Journal reported just over a year ago that the Lansing Diocese settled a claim in 2010 from a former Haslett resident for $225,000 who claimed Slowey sexually abused him while he was living in a St. Vincent home the priest founded in 1952.
The move makes good on Bishop Boyea’s promise to release the names after the Michigan Attorney General’s Office started an investigation all of the state’s Catholic dioceses last year.
