Detroit — The pastor of St. Kenneth Parish in Plymouth has been required to step aside while law enforcement investigates an alleged improper use of parish funds.

Fr. Thomas Belczak, pastor of St. Kenneth since 2004, was removed from the parish by the Archdiocese of Detroit on Oct. 9. While details of the investigation were not immediately released by either law enforcement or the archdiocese, Fr. Belczak, 60, will not be allowed to be present at St. Kenneth until the matter is resolved. He will still be allowed to continue his public ministry as a priest “only in circumstances with the expressed consent of the Archdiocese of Detroit,” according to a statement from the archdiocese.

While the matter is investigated, Fr. Robert Blondell, a senior priest, has been named administrator of the 2,400-family parish.

Fr. Belczak is the brother of Fr. Edward Belczak, who in April was arraigned on federal charges alleging misappropriation of nearly $700,000 from St. Thomas More Parish in Troy. Fr. Edward Belczak has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss sent a letter to St. Kenneth parishioners Oct. 9 to inform them of the situation, and archdiocesan officials spoke at the parish during weekend Masses.

“I am well aware, and deeply regret, how difficult and painful a situation this is for parishioners of St. Kenneth, and especially for those close to Father Belczak,” Bishop Reiss wrote. “It’s an unfortunate reality, but news like this can reverberate far beyond parish borders, impacting the priests and people of the archdiocese in various ways. This is a situation nobody wants to be in, though we have been led here by our obligation to do what is right.”

Bishop Reiss added the situation does not mean St. Kenneth Parish is in financial distress.

Fr. Thomas Belczak has also served as pastor of St. Valentine Parish, Redford Township (1989-2004); and as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford (1980-84); and St. John Neumann Parish, Canton (1984-89).