More than ten years after a popular American Catholic priest's death, an allegation of sexual abuse on a minor against him has been found to be credible.

Father David West, a Roman Catholic priest and pastor who served over 20 congregations across South East Michigan, is alleged to have sexually abused a minor and these claims have been "found to be credible."

West died in 2004, aged 65 before any allegations were made, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit. The abuse is said to have occurred in the 1970s and the victim was male.

Church policy enables allegations of sexual abuse on minors to be made at any point, whether the perpetrator is dead or alive, in order to prioritise the victim.

They "put no time limits on the reporting of sexual abuse of minors" by any members of the priesthood or anyone connected to churches or other related institutions, said Joe Kohn, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

"It doesn't matter when it happens or when it's reported. We try to determine if it's credible and, if it is, we notify every place" in which the perpetrator has served because "that increases the likelihood that this might have occurred elsewhere," Kohn said. The priority is to ensure that the victims are offered counselling and support.

West was ordained in 1964 and served in various high profile positions for over 40 years across the state of Michigan, as a pastor in several churches, a faculty member at two seminaries and a chaplain at a high school.