Fr. Bogdan Werra
From Poland, where he was ordained for the Diocese of Chelmno. Arrived in the U.S. in 1984 or 1986. Sexually abused a teenaged altar boy in Poland; arranged for the boy to move to the U.S. to study for the priesthood, where the abuse continued. Treated for alcoholism at Guest House in Rochester, MN at some point and in 1994 was sent to St. Michael’s Institute in St. Louis MO due to alcoholism and sexual misconduct with a seminarian. Also, there were concerns about his misuse of funds. Suspended from the LaCrosse diocese 11/14/1994; worked as a chaplain at a medical facility in Chicago for a short time, then went to Kalamazoo. Incardinated into the Kalamazoo diocese 12/20/2000 by Bishop Murray, despite warnings that Werra was “high risk.” Accused in 2004 of embezzling over $240K from two parishes; convicted 3/10/2005. Sentenced to 300 days in jail and 5 years probation. Was allowed to minister on work release, then assigned to a parish. Later deported. Died in the U.K. in 9/2017, where he had been assigned in the Archdiocese of Cardiff at a Grangetown parish and as a Polish Mission priest in South Wales. Named publicly as accused by the La Crosse diocese on its list 1/18/2020, which notes one substantiated allegation of child sexual abuse. Included in the MI Attorney General’s 5/22/2024 Kalamazoo report.
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