(7/19/2018) - A Lapeer County charity that aims to help Catholic priests facing criminal charges has been shut down for violating Michigan's nonprofit and charitable solicitations laws.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Thursday he issued a cease and desist order to Opus Bono Sacerdotii, requiring the organization to shut down immediately.

If the group doesn't fix the problems investigators uncovered, Schuette's office plans to file a civil lawsuit that would force Opus Bono Sacerdotii to disband and seek penalties.

The organization raises money to help priests nationwide who are embroiled in criminal cases.

An investigation into Opus Bono Sacerdotii began in 2017. It uncovered the following allegations:

-- The organization's board does not effectively govern its activities, allowing President Joe Maher and Treasurer Pete Ferrara to use the charity for their personal benefit.

-- The board doesn't properly control the organization's expenses, allowing Maher and Ferrara to obtain payment or reimbursement for meals, auto leases, travel and other personal expenses without approval.

-- Maher and Ferrara withdrew money from the organization as compensation without approval, totaling $1.7 million from 2014 to 2017. Ferrara took $55,000 over one five-day stretch.

-- Maher and Ferrara were diverting donations meant to help priests for their personal use.

-- When confronted with allegations uncovered in the Attorney General's Office investigation, board members simply approved Maher's and Ferrara's past actions.

-- The organization, which raised over $1 million annually, sent deceptive mailings to prospective donors using fabricated quotes from priests allegedly helped by the group. The mailings also spoke of urgent needs for money to help priests, but Schuette said they took the money for personal use instead.

“Active board governance is vital to the health of a charitable organization,” Schuette said. “When a board fails to do its job -- fails to supervise the charity’s activities, fails to control its charitable assets and fails to review its solicitations -- it creates an opportunity for unethical or illegal conduct.”