GRAND RAPIDS (MI)
WOOD-TV [Grand Rapids MI]
December 4, 2023
By Diocese of Grand Rapids
[See original statement in PDF]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 4, 2023
The Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Office of Communications issues the following statement regarding the arrest of Mr. James Beauchamp, a former parish employee:
The charges against a former parish employee are deeply troubling. The Diocese of Grand Rapids holds the victim-survivor and his family in our prayers and continues to offer them support on their healing journey. The family reported the incident to the diocese, who forwarded the complaint to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Attorney General. The diocese, in conjunction with the parish, will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The parish pastor terminated Mr. Beauchamp’s employment upon learning of the allegation. In accordance with our diocesan safe environment policies, Mr. Beauchamp had previously passed several background checks, went through Virtus, a safe environment training program that is mandatory for all members of our clergy, volunteers, staff members and teachers, and signed the “Standards of Ministerial Behavior in Dealing with Children and Young People.”
Anyone with any information about this case is encouraged to call the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at 616.738.4025 or Silent Observer at 877.887.4536.
The Diocese of Grand Rapids serves more than 175,114 Catholics, 80 parishes and 31 schools in an 11-county area of West Michigan. For additional information visit our website grdiocese.org. Connect with the diocese on Facebook (Diocese of Grand Rapids), Twitter (@GRDiocese), and Instagram (@GRDiocese).
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CONTACT
Annalise Laumeyer, director of communications
Phone: 616-551-5629 | 616-307-3474 cell
Email: alaumeyer@grdiocese.org