Former Copper Country Priest Accused of Abuse

A former Copper Country priest has been accused of abusing children.

Terrence M. Healy was ordained in the Diocese of Marquette in 1968. He spent a decade at various U.P. churches for a decade. He took a leave of absence in 1978, then returned to service in 1982 in the Diocese of Lansing. He was removed from service there in 1987, and defrocked in 1992.

Today, the Diocese of Lansing included his name on a list of clergy it has determined to be credibly accused of abusing a minor.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Marquette says it learned in 1996 of allegations that occurred while Healy served in the U.P. Those incidents allegedly occurred between the summer of 1968 and the summer of 1969, while Healy was as assistant priest at Sacred Heart Church in L’Anse, and over the following several years, while he worked at St. Joseph’s Church in Sault Ste. Marie.

From 1974 to 1976, Healy was assigned to Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish in Houghton and the Saint Mary Mission in Atlantic Mine. The release from the Marquette Diocese does not mention any allegations of abuse that occurred during that term.

Marquette Bishop John Doerfler is encouraging anyone who may have been abused by Healy, or any other priest, to contact the Michigan Attorney General’s office at its toll-free reporting hotline at (844) 324-3374 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or by email at aginvestigations@michigan.gov.

To bring a complaint regarding the sexual abuse of minors to the attention of the diocese, call one of the victims’ assistance coordinators: Stephen Lynott at (844) 495-4330 or Diane Tryan at (844) 694-4362.

Those who wish to put their complaint in writing may direct their correspondence to: Victims Assistance Coordinator, c/o Catholic Social Services of the U.P., 1100 Ludington St., Suite 401, Escanaba, MI 49829. The letter should be marked “personal and confidential” and indicate whether a response is desired by phone or by letter.

The diocese will also help anyone bring their concerns to Church officials outside the diocese if the sexual abuse occurred elsewhere and the person now resides in the Diocese of Marquette.