Friday February 25, 2005

Reverend Michael N. Cooney

Vicar, Central Macomb Vicariate

St. Peter Catholic Church

98 New Street

MT. Clemens, Michigan 48043-5664

Dear Reverend Cooney,

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of the growing unrest of an apparent majority of the parishioners at St. Rene Goupil Catholic Church, Sterling Heights, Michigan.  As officers of the Parish Pastoral Council and Chairpersons of its 5 Commissions we have been inundated with complaints and concerns from a multitude of parishioners regarding many of the changes dictated by our new Pastor, Fr. Koehler immediately after his arrival on February 1, 2005.

We have received an overwhelming number of calls, emails, and letters and we have also been petitioned in person by an unusually large and diverse group of parishioners expressing a wide range of emotions including, but not limited to; "Hurt", "Appalled", "Disillusioned", "Confused", "Outraged", "Frustrated", and even outright "Anger".

The fact that all of these emotions and corresponding calls for action could manifest over such a short time in so many normally joyful and God loving people is at the very least troubling to us.  All of this growing unrest is being directly attributed to actions taken by Fr. Koehler in just the first 21 days of his administration of our faith community. Frankly, we find it very disheartening since we had all prayed for a unifying spiritual leader.

The following compilation summarizes some of the grievances and potential consequences of the actions taken by Fr. Koehler, as related to us by concerned parishioners, as well as, a sampling of the remedies proposed by some of the same persons.

We submit the compilation and the accompanying letters and emails, detailing additional objections and concerns, for your consideration. We ask for your timely intervention in this matter so as to help us preserve the traditions and values of our Parish as passed on to us by Monsignor Martin, Bishop Harrington, and Reverend Schweihofer.

As you read the letters and emails you will no doubt quickly realize the deep pride and affection the parishioners of St. Renes have for "our" church, our God, and each other.  It is our heartfelt desire that the peace we have shared for so many years be returned to our Parish family by whatever means necessary as quickly as possible.

We thank you for your time and guidance in this matter.

Respectfully,

St. Rene Goupil Parish Pastoral Council Officers and Commission Chairpersons

CC:             Cardinal Adam Maida

                   Bishop Boyea

                   Fr. Koehler

The following information has been compiled and summarized from letter, emails, and conversations with concerned parishioners from St. Rene Goupil:

GRIEVANCES: Resignations and Terminations

All of the following have been implicitly or explicitly attributed to Fr. Koehler;

-         Resignation of Deacon ....................................................... December, 2004

-         Resignation of Sister ......................................................... February 7, 2005

-         Resignation of Business Manager..................................... February 17, 2005

-         Termination of Pastoral Minister....................................... February 21, 2005

-         Termination of Director Religious Education (DRE)...........February 21, 2005

-         Resignation of Education Commission Chairperson............February 23, 2005

-         Resignation of RCIA................................................ ........... February, 2005

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES: Resignations and Terminations

-         Loss of spiritual guidance from a much respected Deacon 

-         Loss of spiritual leadership by one of the most respected and revered members of the Parish staff, our Sister

-         Loss of business management continuity and oversight of accounts by a trusted and respected staff person.

-        Loss of experienced and respected religious education leaders responsible for many of the elementary and youth ministry programs which have been integral in bringing children, youth, and parents into our church, Pastoral Minister and DRE.  (These programs have been widely praised by parishioners and attendees in their letters to us).

-         Loss of experienced and dedicated Lay volunteers, for Education Commission and RCIA.

-         Parishioners leaving St. Rene and attending mass elsewhere

-         Parishioners considering leaving the Catholic faith

-         Parishioners reducing their weekly contributions to $1

-         Parishioners reducing their weekly contributions to $0

-         Parishioners threatening not contribute to CSA

GRIEVANCES: Financial Matters -

•     Fr. Koehler advised the Parish Pastoral Council at the February 14, 2005 meeting that;

-         St. Rene's has "serious financial problems" and that he was instructed by the Cardinal to conduct an audit of our books (we have since been told that an audit by the archdiocese is standard practice whenever a Pastor arrives at a parish)

-         He is deferring the sale of the parish property until he has time to review the matter in detail and that the proceeds of the sale would not be used to reduce the parish debt as is currently planned by the Finance Commission (Debt to be Paid-off by 2008)

-         St. Rene had not made any payment of our debt to the Archdioceses over the past two years, when in fact the Parish has paid $202,618 towards the principal from July 1, 2003 - December 31, 2004.

-         Made the above claims about Parish finances without ever meeting with the Finance Commission or any of its members

-         A new Associate Pastor would be starting soon and be paid $47,800, despite the fact that St. Renes has operated without an Associate Pastor for the past 6 years and is allegedly experiencing "serious financial problems".

•     Fr. Koehler authorized significant expenditures in his first 21 days despite the fact St. Rene allegedly has "serious financial problems" and he did so without advising the Parish Pastoral Council or the Finance Commission, even as a courtesy.  These expenditures include;
•      Renovations to the Rectory potentially in excess of $15,000 including;

-         Structural Changes

-         Repainting in the Rectory

-         Re-keying of all the Rectory doors

-         Installing new carpeting in the Rectory

•      Purchase of a new Refrigerator
•      Purchase of a new Stove
•      Purchase of a new Washer
•      Purchase of a new Dryer
•      Purchase of a new High Definition TV
•      Purchase of a new Digital Camera
•      Purchase of a new Chair
•      Purchase of new Bedroom furniture
•      Executed the transfer of sale of a Pick-up truck from St. Vincents to St. Rene for $2000

•     Fr. Koehler donated the St. Rene Rectory dining room table and chairs to St. Vincent's without advising the Parish Pastoral Council, even as a courtesy.
•     St. Rene is paying visiting priests up to $300 ($75/mass for 4 masses) each weekend despite having a full-time Pastor and is allegedly experiencing "serious financial problems".
•     Fr. Koehler instituted a mandatory Funeral Fee of $275 and then compelled a financially challenged family to pay the fee despite their inability to do so.
•     Fr. Koehler has instructed that when the Funeral fee is paid, $100 goes to him, $100 goes to the church, and $75 goes to the Musicians.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES: Financial Matters

-         St. Renes potentially unable to meet payroll and operating expense obligations

-         Potentially significant reductions or the elimination of Parish programs including, but not, limited to; ACCESS, World Youth Day, Tithing Committee, Manna in the Music, etc.

-         Parishioners leaving St. Rene and attending mass elsewhere

-         Parishioners considering leaving the Catholic faith

-         Parishioners reducing their weekly contributions to $1

-         Parishioners reducing their weekly contributions to $0

-         Parishioners refusing to contribute to contribute to CSA

GRIEVANCES: Miscellaneous

Fr. Koehler;

-         Forbade the playing of the piano or the synthesizer during mass, then agreed to allow one song to be performed on the synthesizer.  (Fr. Koehler advised the Parish Pastoral Council at the February 14, 2005 meeting that it was against church doctrine to celebrate mass with "synthetic" music. Which, if true, we have a problem because the church organ qualifies as a synthesizer.)

-         Refused to meet with the Choir about their concerns over many of the changes he has made other than on a one-on-one basis

-         Does not accept email at all

-         Does not accept voicemail at all

-         Does not return phone calls

-         Does not return mail

-         Is frequently unreachable by the Parish staff

-         Advised the Parish Pastoral Council at February 14, 2005 meeting that;

•     St. Rene's parishioners are considered mean and hostile by priests throughout the Archdioceses
•     He would to leave in July if he wasn't treated "properly"
•     A group of well organized parishioners has written over two hundred letters to him protesting various Parish programs, spiritual protocols, and administrative practices.   He further alleged that the unidentified group had the support of Bishop Boyea.  Yet, none of the current Parish Pastoral Council Officers or Commission Chairpersons has ever received any complaints (formal or informal) from any group, nor have they ever been contacted by the Vicar or the Bishop regarding any complaints.  The Parish Pastoral Council and the Commission Chairpersons encourage the still yet unidentified group to come forward at the next regularly scheduled meeting with their concerns so that may be heard in an open forum and recorded.
•     The Parish Rectory was "unlivable", that "the poorest areas in Detroit have better facilities", and "it was a crime to ask a priest to take over the Parish and force them to live like that"

-         Advised that after being allegedly treated unfairly at the Parish Council meeting on Monday February 14, 2005 that he had spoken w/the Cardinal about the treatment he received and was told by the Cardinal that "Every St. Rene staff member would be fired before he (Fr. Koehler) would be removed from his role as Pastor".   Koehler also said that the Cardinal told him that he, "Could dismantle the Parish Council and Commissions if they were causing him too many problems."  These statements were made after he had stayed, of his own free will, an additional hour beyond the end of the Parish Council  talking with Council and Commission members in a very relaxed and friendly forum.

-         Locked himself out of the Rectory and instead of calling a locksmith, threw a brick through a window ($150+) in order to gain entry.

-         Is unknown, physically and personally, to many parishioners because he has celebrated so few masses and is rarely around after other masses

-         Offended a number of the senior parishioners on his first day at his first mass at St. Renes celebrating the 9:30 mass (February 1, 2005) by instructing them when to kneel and stand without taking into consideration their physical capabilities or knowing that kneelers are not in all rows.  A number of seniors have elected to leave as a result of this perceived belittlement.

-         At the February 21, 2005  First Reconciliation meeting attendees were advised there would be no more meetings and that parents would have to complete the education of their children on their own in preparation for receiving first reconciliation.

-         At the February 24, 2005  First Eucharist meeting attendees were advised there would be no more meetings and that parents would have to complete the education of their children on their own in preparation for receiving first communion.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES: Miscellaneous Matters

-         An apparent majority of parishioners are outraged and appalled by the unexpected, unexplained, and seemingly unjustifiable decisions invoked by Fr. Koehler in his first 21 days as our Pastor

-         An overwhelming majority of parishioners have expressed a desire to take action against Fr. Koehler, e.g.;

•     Writing letters and emails of their objections and concerns to Fr. Koehler, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Vicar Rev. Cooney, to Bishop Boyea, Bishop Harrington, and to his eminence the Cardinal Adam Maida
•     Organizing a candlelight vigil with press coverage
•     Organizing pickets with press coverage
•     Conducting private investigations of Fr. Koehler
•     Confronting Fr. Koehler during mass because he will not return parishioners calls or letters

-         A growing perception amongst parishioners that St. Renes is careening down the slippery slope to Spiritual and Financial Bankruptcy from what has been a vibrant and financially stable God loving faith community

PROPOSED REMEDIES:

-         Appointment of a new Pastor to St. Rene because "this does not appear to be a good fit for either party"

-         Re-instatement of our original Pastoral Minister

-         Re-instatement of our original Director of Education

-         Offer to re-instate of our original Sister

-         Offer to re-instate our original Decan

-         Offer to reinstate our original Business Manager

-         Offer to reinstate any or Volunteer that has resigned in protest

-         Hold a Town Hall meeting Hosted by Rev. Cooney and Fr. Koehler to address parishioner concerns

-         Provide a copy of the Archdiocesan Audit report on the state of St. Renes finances to both the St. Rene Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Commission, and Reverend Cooney as soon as it is made available

-         Reimbursement of St. Renes general fund for Rectory expenses and the purchase of personal items

-         The Archdioceses grant St. Rene leniency on the payment of taxes and reduce it CSA goals due to the expected reduction in collections as a result of the current animosity