LANSING (MI)
WNEM [Saginaw, MI]
December 16, 2024
By Trae Harris
LANSING, Mich. (WNEM) – Decades of abuse have been outlined in a report on the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.
Back in 2018, search warrants at seven dioceses uncovered countless documents and electronic evidence.
There have been over 300 pages of findings from the Attorney General’s (AG) office, a hefty find, and this is just report number four out of the seven dioceses across the state.
“We hope this report provides a voice to those who have suffered in silence for so long and shines a light on those alleged offenders,” said Michigan AG Dana Nessel.
She announced the release of a report from the Department of the Attorney General, concerning reports of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct happening within the Diocese of Lansing.
“By publishing these reports, we are sharing their stories and validating their experiences. Criminal prosecutions are just one accountability metric,” Nessel said.
The report is 345 pages long and contains reports from victims and findings from the department, a compilation of victim interviews, police investigations, and physical documents seized from the Diocese of Lansing as well as digital documents seized from their computers. It also includes reports of accusations that were disclosed by the diocese themselves.
“These reports are important not just because we made a promise to the survivors of these abuses years ago but because victims, especially in cases like these where the assaults were perpetrated by entrusted members of a community, are so often silenced, in some cases for decades,” Nessel said.
The information was collected after a search warrant was executed in October 2018 from the tipline the AG’s office established that same year.
The reports span from January 1950. There are 56 entries on the list; 48 of those include priests, three religious brothers, and four deacons, and one former deacon.
“This report represents countless hours of work and dedication since the department first executed search warrants as part of the clergy abuse investigation,” Nessel said.
The reports detail descriptions of accused sexual abuse and misconduct, including grooming and misuse of authority against minors and adults.
Nessel said the department has issued criminal charges in 11 cases, securing nine convictions, and crediting the Diocese of Lansing for its cooperation in the investigation.
“Their willingness to come forward helped bring attention to an issue that has affected so many in our state and our country, including children,” Nessel said.
The tipline received 1,137 tips related to abuse, with 180 of those tips leading to victim interviews, 285 police reports, and multiple police investigations.
On Monday, Dec. 16, Nessel shared a projected timeline of the remaining reports to be released on the seven dioceses: The Diocese of Saginaw in the fall and the Diocese of Detroit sometime in 2026.
The Diocese of Saginaw provided the following statement about the investigation:
On Dec. 16, 2024, the Michigan Office of the Attorney General released a report on its investigation into the handling of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. It is the fourth report to be released by the AG’s office. It follows reports from the dioceses of Marquette, Gaylord and Kalamazoo.
Visit dioceseoflansing.org to view the Lansing Diocese’s response to this report.
As we await the release of the report regarding our own Diocese next fall, we continue to offer our prayers and support for all those who have been harmed. Our commitment to justice, transparency, and healing remains unwavering. The Diocese of Saginaw remains committed to fully cooperating with state officials as they continue their investigation.
For more information on the Diocese of Saginaw’s ongoing efforts to create safe environments, please visit saginaw.org.
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