Many of the Mutual Support articles that have appeared here have focused on the problem of falsely accused priests being removed from ministry. We have reviewed sections of canon law which prohibit such actions and advised members of ways to protect their rights. The next series of articles will highlight the ways priests have been affected as a result of their bishop’s actions — actions which have had negative consequences for priests.
Rest In Peace: Fr. Kenneth Kaucheck
It wouldn’t seem like much to ask: Rev. Kenneth Kaucheck just wanted justice and to clear his
name.
In 2009, a woman came forward claiming that Fr. Kaucheck had sexually abused her as a teen in
the 1970s. And even though prosecutors declined to press charges against him after they
determined that the woman was of legal consent at the time, the Archdiocese of Detroit banned
him from public ministry.
Fr. Kaucheck, however, proclaimed his innocence and took his battle all the way to the Vatican.
Finally, the Vatican acted and removed all restrictions on him.
Unfortunately, Fr. Kaucheck was in his final days of battling cancer when he received news of his victory only days before he passed away last month on July 18 at age 77.
We received word of Fr. Kaucheck from a reader who wrote: “While he was in hospice care at the end of his life, the Archdiocese of Detroit called him on speaker phone and informed him that he was cleared of all allegations and was now ‘unrestricted’ in his ministry. He was waiting for that, and died with some measure of peace.
“At his funeral today, which packed the church, many people who knew him well said that he’d
decided to live not in anger over what happened but in forgiveness. May God rest his soul.”
Fr. Kaucheck was indeed a fighter. As we reported back in 2017, Kaucheck sued SNAP for
defamation after its disgraced director David Clohessy released one of his nutty “press releases”
falsely smearing Kaucheck. Remarkably, SNAP removed the press release from its site after
Kaucheck sued. We are unaware of any other time in SNAP’s history that it has done this despite
defaming countless demonstrably innocent priests over the years.
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Kenneth, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.