A priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has been arrested on charges of defrauding an archdiocesan charitable program, The Detroit News reported. He faces six felony counts.
Father Timothy Kane, 57, allegedly worked with a 34-year-old female accomplice and filed fraudulent applications to the charity over a four-year period.
The pair allegedly gave a share of the fraudulent grants to those who supplied them with their personal information.
After being made aware of the investigation, the archdiocese removed Father Kane from ministry.
“We are extremely disappointed and discouraged that a generous source of support for those in dire need in the inner city, an effort known as the Angel Fund, could possibly fall victim to fraud by a member of our own clergy,” said Ned McGrath, the archdiocese’s director of communications.
“We have been and will continue cooperating with law enforcement authorities and the Wayne County Prosecutor on this matter, which precludes us from commenting specifically on the case.”