Detroit, Mich., Jan 18, 2019 / 05:47 pm (CNA).- Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit announced this week the resignation of Sr. Mary Finn, 84, a long-time faculty member and assistant professor of theology, after allegations surfaced that she had sexual contact with young adult novices under her charge in the 1970s.
“In recent days, information came to my attention regarding inappropriate conduct over fifty years ago by Sr. Mary Finn,” Msgr. Todd J. Lajiness, the rector and president of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, said in a statement published Wednesday.
“After a series of conversations with her, her superior, Archbishop Vigneron and members of the Archbishop’s team, I have accepted her resignation from the faculty of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, effective today.”
In a story reported by Deadline Detroit, Theresa Camden, a former novice with the Home Visitors of Mary, recalled “confusing” experiences with Finn, then the novice director for the order, such as being made to lie very close to her on exclusive retreats.
Camden told Deadline Detroit that in hindsight, she knew something felt wrong. After Camden and another novice, who has remained anonymous, were suddenly kicked out of the order in 1972, they sought therapy for their experiences with Finn. The anonymous novice confirmed to Camden that she had had a sexual relationship with Finn.
Michael Betzold with Deadline Detroit reported that Finn’s resignation was announced by the seminary as his story on the allegations was being prepared.
In her resignation letter, posted to the seminary’s website, Finn admits to having “misused my position of authority as a director of novices in the Home Visitors of Mary (HVM) Order, engaging in inappropriate conduct with two adult novices. I regret that behavior, have repented of my actions, and sincerely apologize for the harm I have caused.”
The Home Visitors of Mary hung up the phone when CNA attempted to contact the order about Finn. Subsequent attempts to contact the order went unanswered.
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit, chairman of the board of trustees at Sacred Heart, was quoted in the seminary statement supporting Finn’s resignation, citing “additional information and what we have come to learn about how best to respond to these situations.”
He said that “While serving as rector of Sacred Heart in the late 1990s, I was given partial details about Sr. Mary’s inappropriate conduct that had occurred in the early 1970s. At the time, I thought the matter had been resolved. I regret this was not the case.”
In a Jan. 18 statement, Archbishop Vigneron went on to say: “It is only in recent days that I have come to know new and additional details and context regarding Sr. Mary’s misconduct. Based on this information, the current rector, Msgr. Lajiness, accepted Sister Finn’s resignation and I endorse this action.”
In 1969, three years before Camden and the other novice were expelled from Finn’s order, Finn began working at Sacred Heart Seminary, where she has served in various positions ever since.
Most recently, Finn was an assistant professor of theology and served on the Priestly Formation Team for the College of Liberal Arts, among other roles, according to a cached website of her seminary page, which had been removed from the school’s website by Friday, Jan. 18.
Edward Mischel, director of community psychiatry at Wayne State University in Detroit, was in the seminary at Sacred Heart about 10 years after Finn started there, in the late 1970s.
Mischel, who completed four years of college at the seminary before discerning that he was not called to the priesthood, told CNA that he chose Finn for his spiritual director and remembers her fondly. They still maintain contact to this day.
“She’s been this quiet, spiritual, loving, easy-going person,” Mischel told CNA. “The guys in the seminary, they adore her.”
News of the allegations of sexual misconduct in the early 1970s was “disheartening,” Mischel said, but he rejected any insinuations that Finn “was dominant or in this old boy’s club, that’s like the antithesis of her. I’ve never seen that in the 30, 40 years I’ve known her, nothing like that at all.”
Mischel said he knows Finn to be a staunch advocate for the people of Detroit, and a very kind and forgiving person.
When asked if he had any concerns that she was placed in charge of young seminarians, after having been accused of sexual misconduct with young women, Mischel said he was not concerned, because he had seen “nothing like that at all” by Finn against the seminarians.
But not all former seminarians of Sacred Heart remember Finn as fondly, and the news of her resignation and the allegations against her as a novice master have also raised serious questions and concerns about her conduct at the seminary.
Two former seminarians at Sacred Heart seminary have told CNA that Finn had a reputation for being overly “handsy” with seminarians – extended hugs, smooches, squeezes and generally unwanted contact were to be expected from Finn.
“In legal terms, it was unwelcomed touching. But if a seminarian reported it, they became a problem,” one former seminarian, who asked for anonymity, told CNA.
Another former seminarian, who also asked for anonymity, told CNA that Finn had become such a “fixture” of the seminary and was so well-liked and considered so holy that she became “untouchable” – any complaints against her were promptly dismissed.
This same seminarian told CNA that Finn was always “touching people”, and while he doesn’t know of any explicitly sexual touching, he said her behavior was “grossly inappropriate.” He recalled on instance where Finn almost pushed a seminarian over a balcony, only to pull him back at the last second, as a joke. When the seminarian turned to throw a punch, assuming it had been one of the guys, he instead saw Sr. Mary.
“She had no sense of boundaries,” the former seminarian said. Her meetings would often run late, and seminarians were expected to listen to her for hours, in what felt like “indoctrination lectures,” he said.
In another example of boundary violation, both former seminarians told CNA separately that Finn was known for wandering the residence wing of the seminary late at night unannounced, and would often walk past seminarians who were in their towels or boxers, coming to and from the communal showers.
One time, Finn wandered in on a priest in the shower, but that issue was “promptly addressed,” one of the former seminarians said.
At some point after the late 1970s, Finn had been moved from her community to live at the seminary. While she would wander the wing belonging to the seminarians, her room was in the faculty wing.
Mischel told CNA that Finn was still living with her community during his time at Sacred Heart. He said he suspects she may have been moved to the seminary due to health problems – she eventually developed Parkinson’s disease, which may have made it difficult for her to drive.
Mischel said he had never had any experience of Finn intentionally walking past half-dressed seminarians, and said he wondered whether it could have been a sign that Finn was entering stages of dementia.
One of the former seminarians who spoke to CNA also said Finn seemed to be “detached from reality” at times, and had difficulty remembering dates. Both of the anonymous former seminarians included in this article were at Sacred Heart in the early and mid-2000s.
When asked why Finn had been moved from her community to live at the seminary, Mary Henige, Strategic Communications Director for Sacred Heart Major Seminary, told CNA that “We do not know when and why Sr. Mary Finn moved to the seminary.”
Both former seminarians also told CNA that Finn’s theology was “unsound.” Part of her theology classes, they said, included “feelings lists” where seminarians were asked to recall an experience from their lives and describe their feelings. The lists, provided by Finn, included “feeling words” such as “sexy”, “hot,” or “horny”, they recalled.
One of the former seminarians told CNA that multiple men had attempted to register complaints against Finn’s conduct, but they were ignored because of the reputation she enjoyed. Many of the faculty at Sacred Heart had been formed by Finn during their time in seminary, and believed her to be saintly. He said at one point, he had heard a faculty member refer to Finn as the “Holy Spirit Incarnate.”
He said on the one hand, she did seem to have a genuine love and concern for people. She saw Christ in people in a way that was “beautiful,” he said.
But she acted like she “was everyone’s mom, but she wasn’t and she’s not,” he said. “There were clear boundary issues. She was very emotionally manipulative of people, very passive aggressive.”
“She had a cult-following, so this is devastating to a lot of people,” he added.
When CNA asked the archdiocese about these claims about Finn’s conduct at Sacred Heart seminary, the archdiocese referred all questions to Sacred Heart.
When asked whether the faculty at Sacred Heart were aware of Finn’s alleged reputation for unwanted touching, inappropriate contact or for allegedly wandering by seminarians in towels, Henige told CNA that “We’re not going to respond to character allegations, nor would that be our role. Sr. Mary’s resignation letter outlines the reasons why she resigned.”
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Archbishop Gregory’s comments towards the President is uncalled for! The first lady is a devote Catholic and their appearance was to call for Peace and Unity and yet the Bishop choose to say that their visit was reprehensible! This in my opinion shows a contempt from the Church. This language is supposedly contrary to any teachings from the Church. It portrays the divide in this country!
As a catholic raised through Catholic Grade School, High School and College as an Alter Boy, Chaplains Assistant in Vietnam I now have reached a point in my life that the Archbishops action and words has now made it official that I believe that the Church has nothing more to offer than misplaced hatred for our President. This makes my leaving the church that much easier.
So now I will place my faith in direct communication to the Lord Jesus Christ and leave the church on the sidelines.
They are SCREAMING loudly for acceptance of the rioters and looters. Say they stand up for injustice YET is truly a one way street. There is NO acceptance or understanding for those trying to defend life and property. I believe the Church should see and support both sides. The Church must see both the bad and the good on both sides
Well said. The bishop is out of line. This president and his wife are the biggest supporters of rights of the unborn that our country has ever seen, bishop should be ashamed and get his rosary out and pray and quit condemning our president.
good riddance
Melania Trump may be a devote Catholic, whatever that is, be she most certainly isn’t a devout Catholic. And you certainly aren’t either, no matter all the Catholic education, service as altar boy and Chaplain. If you were such a good Catholic you would see Trump for what he is, a lying and morally corrupt adulterer, racist, hater, narcissist, cruel, stupid, draft, dodger and a non believer and coward who only used the Catholic church and the bible as a photo op.
Spiteful, much, Sonja? I am a devout Catholic, and I do not see President Trump as that laundry list of talking points you submitted. I do see you spewing vicious hatred. I’m sure you’re just fine with abortions and the attacks on freedom of religion and would far rather have them than have Mr. Trump as President.
Let me guess, TDS and a devout member of the demoncrat party.
You do know that the slaughter of the innocents is the cornerstone of your party of death? Oh well, at least your hero, Joe Biden will defend your “values”.
We are not supposed to hate anyone. If anyone had a reason to hate, it was Jesus. He spoke the truth about God’s Kingdom, which threatened the powers of his day. He was rejected by his own people, endured a merciless scourging at the hands of Roman soldiers, was cruelly mocked and then forced to carry a heavy wooden cross upon which he was ultimately nailed and hung so that his humiliation could be witnessed by all. Yet he was heard to say “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do”.
I stand with my Savior.
I strongly support Archbishop Gregory and his criticism of trump.
Hoping that the mighty intercession of St.John Paul 11 , along with all of heaven is there , to touch all wounded hearts , wounded esp. in the Father realms ,
that the Holy Father too may be grieving over words , thus more compassion and grieving / praying in The Spirit ,for all the wounded , to thus make it an occasion for blessing for all !
Wilton Gregory’s words to President Trump is reprehensible. It is no different from the words coming out from the liberal MSM.
President Trump offers me more hope than the USCCB. SAD!
The archbishop should have called the center first.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to promote international religious freedom and stop religious persecution overseas. The President signed the EO after visiting St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington D.C. late this morning. One of the items in the EO calls for spending millions of dollars to assist programs that advance the cause of international religious freedom.
President Donald Trump is blessed by God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgchpzSaYJA
They did not use tear gas, or the Part Police would have had to have gas masks on! What is happening to our beloved Church. I thought the ones in the WHITE, RED AND FUCHSIA WERE TO BE THE STANDARD BEARERS TO LEAD THE FIGHT TO MAINTAIN OUR CHURCH! WHY ARE THEY NOT MORE VOCAL AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR VOICES AT THE CLOSING OF OUR CHURCHES, WHILE ABORTION CLINICS AND BIG BOX STORES REMAIN OPEN? ANSWER THAT ARCHBISHOP! President Trump was the first President to attend and defend the rights of the unborn. He is a breath of fresh air compared to the stale tales coming out of you and Rome!
SO MY 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHT IS DENIED BY YOU? AND I WAS JUST TELLING THE TRUTH. SUCH A SHAME THAT I CANNOT VOICE MY OPINION SINCE I A CRADLE CATHOLIC! SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR BIASED SITE. THIS IS WAS THE MSM DOES AND HAVE YOU BECOME PART OF IT?
CWR reserves the right to allow or not allow any comments on its site. No one’s “rights” were being denied. Rather, all comments are moderated. You’re welcome.
Do stop shrieking, Rosalie. You do the cause of the Faith no good, and you make supporters of the President look unhinged.
The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The key matter is that “Congress shall make no law.” If a private website chooses not to post something you wrote, it has nothing to do with the law, Congress, or the First Amendment.
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So the bishop is basically saying we need to love each other, except for the president. The double standards and judgemental leadership of the church is why I left the church years ago. Being spiteful yet always preaching acceptance. The church has become a complete embarrassment. This is exactly why I stopped going to mass on Sundays. Hypothetical, self absorbed idiots are in charge
God is not spiteful,God is not a complete embarrassment ,but yes God is our Judge.
We cannot blame God for anyone who has become a traitor. You see they have lost their faith and have caused confusion in the church
Remember He said I will be with you til the end days. He died for all of us. Don’t be fooled Satan loves lies and deception.
He needs you to come back and speak out to them.
John
“… This is exactly why I stopped going to mass on Sundays. Hypothetical, self absorbed idiots are in charge”
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I’m guessing you meant to type hypocritical?
Sure, the Church is absolutely populated by fallen human beings like you & me but at the end of the day Christ is in charge of His Church & He’s who we put our trust in. He’s the one we visit in the tabernacle & receive in the Blessed Sacrament.
I think there have been hypocritical, self absorbed followers of Christ from the beginning. Or worse.
Our Lord couldn’t even depend on His own apostles who had personally witnessed His miracles. Only one had the courage to remain at His side at Calvary. The others had either betrayed Him or run away.
The miracle today is that after 2 thousand years our Church still survives her fallen members & weak clergy.
Don’t be like the apostles who ran away, be like St. John who was steadfast.
God bless you!
Archbishop Gregory remarks: “I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree.”
The Church does have something important to say, but maybe the archbishop would be less baffled if he were open to a more serendipity view of events? The CALENDAR DATE of the previously-scheduled Trump appearance (and his signing of the declaration of religious freedom!) simply became an accident of the worst timing.
Something like the meltdown into the not-irrelevant Civil War…In the Civil War, the SERENDIPITY ASYMMETRY is (a) that the North eventually escalated its case into the Emancipation Proclamation—at the cost of some 360,000 fatalities; while (b) the South thought in some large degree in terms of a less banker-dominated culture (“the system!”), one protected by states’ rights, and with some 260,000 additional dead, also white.
For the north and the Emancipation Proclamation, there were also 2,700 Black fatalities, not to be forgotten, either.
So, now, today, to the streets, with the real, richly complicated, and deeper issues too easily graffitied-over with clichés from all sides including an archbishop.
One ENCOURAGING SIGN was the more measured commentary by former President Obama (not my selection). At a similar time and case in his administration, Obama fanned the racist flames with an early snap judgment which, in that particular case, was in error. Later, he remarked that he should have “calibrated” his comments more carefully (Harvard-ese for screwing up).
To his credit, he remembered; what do we remember?
Whatever his cultural flaws, the states-rights General Robert E. Lee was also and distinctively a true gentleman and a STATESMAN. All of us should find “reprehensible,” possibly, the removal of Lee as a symbol of those qualities—missing so equally (!) in all factions today—from even our town squares and visible history.
Indeed, the archbishop who earlier promised to “always tell the truth,” perhaps he now will find “reprehensible” the New York Times “1619 Project” set to be deployed soon in public schools—and teaching that the war for Independence was not about principles of the common good, but rather about perpetuating slavery.
Another serendipity messaging, this time from the Left, POORLY TIMED AS WELL AS FALSE, and therefore sure to further inflame the hell now claiming on our streets and national memory.
Trump’s visit to the Shrine was scheduled prior to the killing of George Floyd on an unrelated issue that all people of good conscience should be able to get behind. If Gregory found the event so objectionable, he could have communicated privately with the people at the Shrine beforehand instead of publicly castigating them after the fact. He has no right to berate them for failing to go out of their way to scorn Donald Trump’s very person, especially when he was content to have the at least equally questionable persons of Cardinal Mahony and Cardinal Wuerl at his side for his installation Mass.
A further thought! The Archbishop’s outrage that President Trump should appear at the Shrine in the midst of the George Floyd protests for any cause whatsoever, even in connection with an executive order on international religious freedom, effectively relativizes the killing of George Floyd with the persecution of Christians worldwide. As He Himself has said, the death of one man is a tragedy. The death of a million men is a statistic.