By Nicole Walton
Watersmeet, MI – A Gogebic County priest has been removed from his ministry on suspicion of child sexual abuse. Diocese of Marquette officials received a complaint in September against Father Aloysius Hasenberg, 86, of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Watersmeet. After preliminary investigation, Bishop Alexander Sample determined there was sufficient evidence that the sexual abuse of a male minor had occurred. He says the allegation dates back a number of years.
The matter has been referred to civil authorities, but under church law an accused priest is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Sample says he's offered to meet with the victim, and the diocese has extended counseling and spiritual outreach to him.