Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

15 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Daniel C. Aerts

Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

In 4/2002 Aerts admitted to sexual misconduct with a teen in 1979 while assigned to St. Thomas and Holy Spirit parishes in Grand Rapids. Apparently the victim sent him a letter in 2002 and he forwarded it to the Diocese. He resigned from his position. The bishop said there was no prior knowledge of abuse.

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Fr. Eugene F. Alvesteffer

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Died: 01/18/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

The Diocese revealed in 5/2002 that Alvesteffer had a substantiated allegation against him of abuse which occurred while he was assigned in Ludington in the 1970s. Died 1/18/1998.

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Fr. Charles Antekeier

Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Retired in 2000. Alleged to have sexually abused a minor 1984-1985 while pastor of St. James in Grand Rapids. Permanently removed from ministry in 8/2015, ordered to lead a 'life of prayer and penance.' Per a 8/2015 news report, Antekeier was also accused of abuse, including rape, of a prepubescent St. James altar boy in the early 1970s. The alleged victim's father said that, as a result of the abuse, his son was an alcoholic by age 14, became violent and spent time in prison. When he became sober in his 40s, he told his father of the abuse. The father said he told the D.A. and the church, but nothing happened.

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Fr. Louis Baudone

Ordained: 1959
Status: Accused

Died: 05/18/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Baudone was the subject of allegations deemed substantiated that he molested two children in 1981 in Muskegon County. He "retired" from his duties in 1993 when allegations first surfaced. Privileges not removed until 2002. Ordered to live a life of prayer and penance. Additional allegations of old abuse became public in 3/2008. Baudone died 5/19/2024 in West Paris, ME.

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Fr. Shamaun Beas

Ordained: 1994
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Extern priest from Pakistan. Arrested in 5/2004 in an internet sting and charged with soliciting sex over the Internet from someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Had previously exhibited "questionable behavior" and was sent for therapy. Sentenced to 5 to 20 years in 3/2006. Later sentenced to 1 year for abuse of a girl. Withdrew guilty plea to additional charges in another county in 7/2008. The girl's sister also alleged abuse. Sentenced to another 16-24 months in 10/2008 for abuse of both sisters.

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Fr. Vincent W. Bryce

Order: OP
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

A man accused Bryce in 4/2002 of abusing him as a boy in about 1977. The complaint was made to the Chicago office of the Dominican Order who notified the Diocese of Grand Rapids, where Bryce was working. Bryce was immediately removed from his assignment and returned to the Order's headquarters. Bryce admitted to the abuse, which occurred in another (unspecified) state. Reported to be living at St. Louis U's Jesuit Hall, but the the Catholic Directories show him to be living at St. Dominic Priory in St. Louis 2003 through at least 2017. Per the Order's St. Albert the Great Province list 4/21/2022, the abuse occurred in the early 1970s at St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest, IL. Included on the Chicago archdiocese's list in 10/2022. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which notes one "reported survivor." Died in 2023.

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Fr. Stanislaus Bur

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 02/1/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Accused in 1992 of molesting an Ionia altar boy in 1958. The Grand Rapids Diocese found the accusations credible; paid up to $1,000/month for the victim's therapy for several years. Bur, then in the Saginaw diocese, was removed from active ministry. Permanent suspension, given a life of prayer and penance in 11/2005. Additional allegations of old abuse were made public in 3/2008. Died 2/1/2009.

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Fr. Lawrence N. Hartwig

Ordained: 1967
Status: Guilty plea

Died: 09/21/1998
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

"Larry." Reportedly in 5/2002, the Grand Rapids Diocese had substantiated allegations against Hartwig and seven other priests. Hartwig was named in single allegation of abuse occurring in Muskegon in 1982. News reports in 1982 show that Hartwig pleaded no contest to sexual assault on a 16-year-old boy. He was ordered to pay $100 in court costs. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Hartwig was "on duty outside the diocese" beginning in 1987. It shows him as: chaplain at St. Francis Hospital/Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT 1987-1990; chaplain at St. Mary Hospital in Springfield, MA 1990-1991; Director of Pastoral Ministry fo Santa Rosa Health Care in San Antonio, TX 1991-1994. His whereabouts 1994-1998 are unclear. Hartwig died 9/21/1998.

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Fr. Donald J. Heydens

Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

In the early 1990s the Diocese substantiated allegations that Heydens sexually abused four teenage girls at a parish in the early 1970s. Out of court settlements in 1989 and 1994. Ministry restricted; assignments included the diocese's program for deacons. Removed from all ministry in 7/2002, after the 6/2002 Dallas Bishops Conference. Assigned to a 'life of prayer and penance.'

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Fr. Richard J. Host

Ordained: 1974
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

In a civil suit filed in 11/1988 a woman accused Host and her ex-husband of molesting her boys, ages 4 and 6, over a two-year period. The suit also included claims against the USCC and NCCB (Catholic conferences). Kept in ministry.

Sources:

Niles Daily Star 11.17.88

Fr. Joseph W. Kenshol

Ordained: 1973
Status: Settled

Died: 12/19/2022
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Accused in a 1995 civil suit of giving adolescent boys full body oil massages in the rectory of Sacred Heart Parish. Claims were later settled for undisclosed amount after underlying suits were dismissed by Court and Appeals Court. Diocese said behavior was "immature and inappropriate, indicating poor judgment but nothing more." He was allowed to return to ministry. Died 12/19/2022.

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Fr. William A. Langlois

Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish pastor 1996 until retirement in 2016. In 2014 he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a woman and took a 6-month leave. Laicization announced by the diocese in 5/2021, due to an allegation deemed credible that Langlois sexually abused a minor beginning in 1999 and continuing into the victim's adulthood until 2006. He reportedly began grooming the girl when she was 12 or 13 in 1994 or 1995, when she went to him for counseling after her mother died. The Diocese received the allegation in 2018. He was removed from ministry during investigations by the Diocese and MI Attorney General.

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WZZM. 05.07.21

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Fr. David E. LeBlanc

Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Died: 08/20/2019
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

LeBlanc resigned from his parish in 1/2007 after admitting to Bishop Hurley that he had sexually abused a pre-teen boy in 1971. The accusation was brought to the Diocese in 1993 and LeBlanc admitted it then. Apparently then-Bishop Rose did nothing. The matter was brought to light in 1/2007 when the bishop reviewed personnel files. In 4/2019 a man stated publicly that LeBlanc molested him at a Caledonia parish in 1999, when he was age 12. No prosecution due to the statute of limitations. Died 8/20/2019.

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Fr. Michael McKenna

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 10/26/2023
Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Permanently removed from all ministry in 12/2006 after credible allegations that he sexually abused a child in the 1970s. Took sabbatical in 2002. Placed on medical leave in the 2003 before the allegations arose. Multiple transfers throughout his career. Apparently there are "several" victims per the bishop. Prosecutors said evidence shows abuse but the statute of limitations prohibits criminal prosecution. Additional allegations of old abuse became public in 3/2008. McKenna died 10/26/2023.

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Fr. Dennis A. Wagner

Ordained: 1978
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids MI

Pleaded guilty in 1983 to assault and battery of a 13-year-old boy during a tubing trip. Given two years probation and received counseling. Apparently admitted in 1983 that he had molested more than one boy. A man told the diocese in the early 1990 that Wagner raped him in a lake in 1985. No criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. Diocese gave the man money for therapy. Wagner was allowed to work as a canon lawyer in the Diocesan Tribunal Office. Suspended in 5/2002. Diocese received six substantiated allegations. Wagner agreed to ask for laicization.

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