Former Pastor Will Stand Trial For Stealing From Church

CANTON, MI — A former Canton pastor accused of stealing money and items from Resurrection Parish will stand trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. Father Eugene Katcher, who led the church for about three years, waived his district court preliminary examination Friday and was bound over, according to a Canton Observer report.

Last month, Katcher was arraigned on three counts of larceny in a building, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit. The charges are felonies carrying a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison.

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Katcher, 71, retired from the church in July, the Archdiocese said in a news release. The church began an investigation into Katcher’s activities last spring and, after finding evidence, turned the case over to police.

The Archdiocese has restricted Katcher from public ministry. He can’t celebrate Mass or the sacraments in a church setting, or present himself as a priest. Katcher also is not allowed on parish property at Resurrection.