The Prudence of Flesh — Ralph M. McInerny

Gregory Barret, a classmate of Father Dowling, left the priesthood twenty-five years ago. Now, after all these years, a woman brings a multi-million dollar suit against him alleging he sexually exploited her as a child. Barret is considering a countersuit when his accuser reveals that she has a son and claims the son is his. When a body washes up on the shore of Lake Michigan and Barret is suspected in the murder, Father Dowlings search is on to find the links between characters whose lives seemed to have been separated long ago.