Fr. Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Became a priest of the Diocese of Lansing when it was created in 1968. Died in 1/1978. According to the MI Attorney General’s 12/16/24 Diocese of Lansing Report, the Diocese received four allegations of the sexual abuse of children by Wahowiak, both boys and girls. All of the allegations were noted to have been received after Wahowiak’s death. In 2005 a woman alleged that he sexually abused her from 1974 until his death in 1978, when she was 5-9 years old and he was assigned to St. Mary’s in Charlotte MI. She said he told her that if she told anyone her parents might go to hell. She said Wahowiak would invite her to help out in the rectory and that the abuse usually occurred in the rectory bedroom. It allegedly included oral copulation and attempted penetration. She said that he also sexually abused her older sister and two or more other girls. Further, she said that she and her sister told Bishop Povish in about 1994 and that there was no follow-up. Their father said the girls received counseling. In 4/2011 a woman told the Diocese that Wahowiak sexually abused her from the time she was age 8 until she graduated from grade school, when Wahowiak was assigned to Assumption/BVM in Detroit. In 9/2019 the Diocese learned of an allegation that Wahowiak likely sexually abused a boy 1976-1980 at St. Mary’s, as well as the boy’s friend; the friend reportedly said there was anal penetration. In 3/2022 a woman alleged that Wahowiak fondled her in 7/1974. She said she had no doubt that the priest sexually abused many children 1972-1979 when he was assigned to St. Mary’s. The Diocese’s Review Board deemed the allegations credible.