Former Assumption Grotto pastor found guilty of canon law violations during investigation into abuse claims, expresses wish to repair ‘damage’
DETROIT — The former pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish in Detroit may return to public ministry, though not at his former parish, following the conclusion of a disciplinary process examining his conduct during an unrelated investigation into allegations of sexual abuse.
Fr. Eduard Perrone, 73, has maintained his innocence against the initial allegations from 2019 that he had sexually abused a minor during his early days in ministry. After a yearslong investigation into the sexual abuse allegations, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican body that handles claims of abuse against clergy, declined to pursue a canonical case against Fr. Perrone, announcing its decision in August 2021.
At the time, the Archdiocese of Detroit said the Vatican congregation’s decision meant “no further action can be taken in this case under church law.”
However, separate from the abuse allegations, the archdiocese said a “canonical disciplinary process” would continue against Fr. Perrone related to his conduct during the investigation, which included a lawsuit against Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin, the archbishop’s delegate for handling cases of alleged clergy misconduct. Fr. Perrone has continued to receive financial support and benefits from the archdiocese.
Fr. Perrone had remained restricted from public ministry during both the investigation and subsequent disciplinary process. On Feb. 16, the archdiocese announced the conclusion of the latter process, with a three-judge panel of priests and canon law experts — none from the Archdiocese of Detroit — finding Fr. Perrone guilty of three canonical charges, including disobeying “legitimate precepts” given to him by the archbishop of Detroit.
“The judges determined two penalties: Fr. Perrone be removed from the office of pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, and that he may not assume a Church office until he ceases the conduct prompting these court findings and makes the necessary reparations,” the archdiocese said in a statement.
With the disciplinary process concluded, Fr. Perrone is permitted to return to the public celebration of Mass and the sacraments in a limited capacity. Namely, he may not exercise public ministry at Assumption Grotto, must receive prior approval before exercising any ministry outside the Archdiocese of Detroit, and may not exercise ministry in the presence of unaccompanied minors, the archdiocese said.
In its statement, the archdiocese emphasized that the judges in the case allowed the archdiocese to release “limited information” about the case for the purpose of notifying the community.
The next day, Feb. 17, Fr. Perrone issued a statement saying he accepts the judges’ decision and wished to “repair any scandal” caused by his actions.
“I accept and respect the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court and will not be appealing it,” Fr. Perrone said in the lengthy public statement. “[I]n the hope of healing and reconciliation, I call upon the parishioners of Assumption Grotto and all my supporters to follow my lead and renew our support and loyalty to Archbishop Vigneron and to renounce any want of charity that may have resulted from my actions.”
Canonical findings against Fr. Eduard Perrone
The Accused, Reverend Eduard Perrone, is guilty and gravely imputable for the willful disobedience of the legitimate precepts of the Archbishop of Detroit and his Episcopal Vicar (can. 1371, 2°); the impeding of the freedom of the Archbishop and his Episcopal Vicar in exercising their ecclesial ministry (can. 1375) ; and for his statements injuring the good reputation of another, namely Rev. Msgr. Michael Bugarin (can. 1390 §2).
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