Fr. James M. Novak
Retired to senior priest status in 6/1997. Per a news article 8/24/2010, Novak was accused of abuse and permanently removed from ministry; no dates given. Included on the Lansing diocese’s list of credibly accused 9/27/2019. Multiple allegations. Noted to have been removed from ministry 11/25/2002. Laicized 5/14/2021. Included in the 12/16/2024 MI Attorney General Diocese of Lansing Report which reveals that multiple boys, as young as in third grade through age 18, were sexually abused by Novak. Novak’s modus operandi was often to say he was going to hypnotize his victims (which he was not trained to do), then violate them while they were “hypnotized.” The Diocese long knew of his behavior, yet kept him in ministry. Some alleged victims reported having been raped. Novak also is alleged to have similarly abused young adult men.
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