Michigan Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Unwanted or illegal sexual contact by a clergy member is abusive and deeply damaging. Survivors of sexual abuse often experience physical pain and psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. These issues may last for years after the abuse occurred and have the potential to affect every part of a survivor’s life. 

If a clergy member sexually abused you or a loved one, you could be entitled to compensation. Even if the abuse occurred many years ago, talking to an experienced attorney can help you understand your options and protect your rights.

Sexual Harassment by a Church Member in Michigan 

Children and adults can experience unwanted sexual advances by clergy members, church employees, or other individuals acting as agents of the church. The harasser may be a supervisor, coworker, volunteer, or community member.

A survivor of harassment or sexual abuse may be able to pursue claims against the church as an organization for failing to adequately ensure the safety of students and others in its care. Examples of situations where a church may share liability include:

• The church failed to take reasonable steps to ensure its agents and employees were not known predators.
• The church knew of or suspected the abuse and allowed it to continue.
• The church took steps to hide a potential scandal, such as reassigning the abuser or destroying evidence.

In late 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report summarizing a six-year investigation of suspected sexual abuse and misconduct in the Lansing Diocese. It accuses 48 priests, three brothers, and four deacons of misconduct, revealing a culture of grooming, misuse of power, and outright abuse.

What Compensation Is Available for Sexual Abuse Survivors in Michigan?

It doesn’t matter if you are a male or female or if your abuser was a man or a woman – any scenario where someone made unwanted sexual advances or unwanted sexual contact with you is not okay. You deserve justice after such a traumatic time in your life.

The Michigan attorney general has investigated and charged numerous priests within the Catholic Church. Since her investigations began, these priests have been charged with criminal sexual conduct:

• Timothy Michael Crowley, 69, Lansing Diocese, previously a priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Neil Kalina, 63, Archdiocese of Detroit, previously a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township, Michigan, from 1982 to 1985.
• Patrick Casey, 55, Archdiocese of Detroit, previously a priest at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, Michigan.
• Jacob Vellian, 84, Kalamazoo Diocese, previously a priest at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
• Vincent DeLorenzo, 80, Lansing Diocese, previously a priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, Michigan.
• Joseph (Jack) Baker, Archdiocese of Detroit, previously a priest at St. Perpetua Parish in Waterford, Michigan; St. Mary Parish in Wayne, Michigan; Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, Michigan; and associate pastor at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
• Brian Stanley, 57, Lansing, Michigan Diocese, previously a priest at St. Margaret’s Church.
• Joseph Comperchio, 68, taught at St. John Catholic School in Jackson, Michigan, from 1974 to 1977 and at Canterbury School in Lee County, Florida.
• Gary Berthiaume, 80, previously a priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wyandotte and later Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington, Michigan.

On October 27, 2022, the Michigan Attorney General’s office released a Report of Alleged Abuse at Marquette Catholic Diocese about allegations of abuse in the Marquette Catholic Diocese. According to the AGs office, the list of priests alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct against children or adults since January 1, 1950, is derived from information gleaned from a search warrant executed against the Diocese of Marquette on October 3, 2018. There are 44 priests on this list; 38 were employed or incardinated by the Marquette Diocese. The list identifies these priests:

• Fr. Casimir Adasiewicz, died 1981.
• Fr. Thomas Anderson, died 1981.
• Fr. Emil Beyer, died 2003.
• Fr. Joseph Carne, died 2019.
• Fr. Leonard Cornelius, O.F.M., active ministry at Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
• Fr. Richard T. Craig, removed from ministry in 1993.
• Fr. Timothy Desrochers, died 2020.
• Fr. Thomas Dunleavy, 2002.
• Fr. Gino Ferraro, died 1976.
• Fr. Wilbur Gibbs, died 1988.
• Fr. Basil Goerner, died 2008.
• Fr. Michael Hale, died 1975.
• Fr. Gerald Harrington, died 1962.
• Fr. Donald Hartman, died 1999, removed from the ministry in 1992.
• Fr. Aloysius Hasenberg, died 2016, removed from the ministry in 2008.
• Fr. Terrence Healy, died 2019, removed from ministry in 1987 and convicted of criminal sexual conduct.
• Fr. Raymond Hoefgen, died 2012, removed from the ministry in 2002.
• Fr. John Hughes, died 1979.
• Fr. Gary Jacobs, removed from ministry in 1989 and convicted of criminal sexual conduct.
• Fr. Roy Joseph, charged with criminal sexual conduct.
• Fr. Norbert Lacosse, died 2014, removed from the ministry in 1990.
• Fr. Frank Lenz, remains in ministry with limitations.
• Fr. Clement Lepine, died 2000.
• Fr. Mark McQuesten, remains in active ministry.
• Fr. James Menapace, died 2022, removed from the ministry in 2002.
• Fr. Peter Minelli, died 2017, removed from the ministry in 2014.
• Fr. Albert Mligo, presumed alive.
• Fr. Robert Monroe, died 1980.
• Fr. Aaron Nowicki, removed from ministry in 2019, charged with criminal sexual conduct.
• Fr. Vincent Ouellette, died 1998.
• Fr. Wilfred Pelletier, died 1973.
• Fr. Anthony Polakowski, died 1978.
• Fr. Armour Roberts, died 1989.
• Fr. David Rocheleau, died 1984.
• Fr. Nelson Daniel Rupp, presumed alive, resigned as pastor in 1996.
• Fr. Walter Sheedlo, presumed alive, removed from ministry in 2009.
• Fr. Don Shiroda, died 2011.
• Fr. Ephream/Ephraim Sitko, died 1982.
• Fr. Neil Smith, died 2007.
• Fr. Charles Strelick, died 2017, retired from the ministry in 1995.
• Fr. Jan Szczykowski, unknown if dead or alive, returned to Poland in 1998.
• Fr. Guy Thoren, died 2011, removed from the ministry in 2002.
• Fr. Bernard Van Der Schueren, SJ, died 2009.
• Fr. James Wolf, O.F.M., CAP, alive, retired/restricted in ministry since 2005.

If a Catholic priest in Michigan abused you, you can file a complaint here with the Attorney General’s office. They can investigate the case from a criminal perspective, but we can investigate the matter for a civil suit and monetary damages.

While sexual abuse may be prosecuted as a criminal offense, criminal penalties don’t compensate you for the pain and emotional suffering you experienced from the abuse. A sexual abuse lawyer will help hold your abusers financially accountable.

You could be entitled to compensation for:

• Anxiety, depression, and emotional distress.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Medical bills, including costs for ongoing therapy or counseling.
• Lost wages if the abuse resulted in your inability to work.
• Treatment of physical injuries resulting from the abuse.
• Loss of enjoyment of everyday life activities.
• Embarrassment or damage to your reputation in the community or church.

It’s incredibly brave to come forward and stand up to priests or clergy members who have abused you. We stand with you every step of the way to fight for justice for you and your family.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for Sexual Abuse by a Clergy Member?

If a clergy member in Michigan has abused you, you may be able to pursue legal action against the person who assaulted you and possibly against the Catholic Church or Diocese. The clergy are considered employees of the church, and the church is responsible for the actions of its employees and church leaders.

The Child Protection Law Act 238 of 1975 requires many individuals to report child neglect or abuse through telephone or an online reporting system. These “mandatory reporters” include doctors, teachers, dentists, and clergy members. If they know or suspect a child is being abused, they are legally required to do one of the following:

• Make an immediate report by telephone.
• Make a report through an online system. 
• File a written report that complies with the Act’s requirements within 72 hours.

You may be able to pursue claims against clergy members or other mandatory reporters who failed to comply with their obligations.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Sexual Abuse?

In recent years, a staggering number of sexual abuse cases within various churches have come to light. Subsequent investigations exposed widespread attempts by many churches to cover up the abuse and protect their agents. These revelations have created a need to change the established statute of limitation laws. 

There are many reasons survivors may not come forward right away. Many survivors of sexual abuse, especially children, may not recognize the serious nature of what happened to them until many years later. Survivors may fear their abuser or worry they will not be believed. A person who has faced sexual abuse by a church member has the right to seek justice for their traumatic experience. 

Michigan’s statute of limitations laws changed in 2018 following the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandals. These changes gave many sexual abuse survivors more time to pursue a lawsuit. In most circumstances, an abuse survivor must file a claim within ten years of the occurrence or their 28th birthday, if the claim relates to criminal sexual abuse committed against them as a child.

These critical changes have given many people a chance to take legal action against their abuser and others who allowed the abuse to occur, even after many years have passed. However, many others are still barred from pursuing justice. Michigan sexual assault survivor advocacy groups continue the fight to enact new legislation to expand these laws, including a pair of recently passed state Senate Bills currently under consideration in the House.

Michigan Clergy Sexual Abuse Attorneys Can Help

You may be able to pursue a claim if a clergy member or a church worker has abused you. A lawsuit may allow you to recover compensation for the lasting damage caused by the sexual abuse and hold abusers and the institutions that enabled them accountable.

Speaking out about clergy abuse can help give other survivors the strength to come forward and seek justice. It’s also a critical part of eroding the cultural protections that allow abusers to evade punishment for their actions.

Sommers Schwartz, P.C. attorneys Lisa Esser-Weidenfeller and her colleague Matthew Curtis are seasoned and aggressive attorneys who will handle your sexual abuse case with the compassion, empathy, and sensitivity you deserve. Our team will discuss your options and help you determine your best course of action. Contact a Sommers Schwartz attorney today for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.