Deacon James E. Corder
Diocese: Diocese of Lansing MI
Ordained for the permanent diaconate in 2000. Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry 1997-2001, coordinator for youth ministry at Holy Redeemer 2001-2007, pastoral associate for St. Gerard in Lansing 2007-present (2024). In a 1993 affidavit regarding his sexual abuse by Fr. Timothy Crowley 1982-1990, beginning at age 10, a man also alleged attempted sexual abuse by Corder, while Crowley held him down. Bishop Povich did not believe the allegations; Corder and Crowley denied them. In 2007 the Diocese deemed the allegations against Crowley credible; those against Corder were deemed not credible. (Crowley pleaded guilty in 2023 to sexually abusing this accuser.) In 10/2019 testimony related to the charges against Crowley, the accuser reiterated his allegations against Corder. He said he was 17- or 18-years old at the time. Corder was removed from ministry pending an investigation. He again denied the allegation and passed a lie detector test. There were no criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. He was returned to ministry after the Diocese’s Review Board determined in 2/2020 that there was no new information that would lead to overturning Bishop Povish’s 1993 decision.
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