Category:Archdiocese of Detroit

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Archdiocese of Detroit

Archdiocese of Detroit Relies on religious priests to staff about 10% of parishes in its six-county area. Diocesan priests are pastors at 261 of its parishes, while religious priests oversee 32 parishes (2001). About 300 priests from about 30 religious orders are represented in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and most of them are not involved directly in parish work. They include the Jesuits, who founded and comanage the University of Detroit Mercy and have a large, retired clergy campus and infirmary in Clarkston; the Capuchin friars, renowned for their soup kitchen; the Basilians, who run Catholic Central High School, and missionary orders such as the Dearborn Heights-based Marianhill community.

Archdiocese of Detroit policy When a priest's misbehavior with a minor finally caught the ear of a bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit, church officials quickly shipped him out of Michigan without questioning him or alerting prosecutors.

Archdiocese of Detroit abuse Archdiocese gave local prosecutors the names of 51 clerics, two deacons and a religious brother who had been accused of sexual misconduct in the Archdiocese of Detroit 1987-2002, and disclosed that four, whom it would not identify, remained on the job, two of which led to secret payments to victims. Detroit Cardinal Edmund Szoka (later a high official in the Vatican) handled few cases of priests accused of molesting minors when he led the archdiocese 1981-90. National Audit reported 116 victims were known to the archdiocese since 1950, allegations of sexual abuse were leveled against 63 of the archdiocese's priests and deacons. The archdiocese did not investigate allegations against dead priests or those in religious orders, 5 February 2004.

Archdiocese of Detroit affiliated priest cases Twelve of the priests accused of sexual abuse were members of religious orders who were able to pass in and out of metro Detroit with minimal monitoring by archdiocesan officials. All 12 are no longer in southeast Michigan, and Detroit church officials said they have no interest in tracking them.

Archdiocese of Detroit settlements Archdiocese paid nearly $1.4 million in settlements and counseling costs to victims of sexual abuse by clergy up to 5 February 2004.

Archdiocese trials Archdiocese asked the Vatican to make an initial ruling on the 26 cases, 13 cases were returned to Detroit for action, two men ordered to leave the priesthood entirely, four to be put on trial in the new church courts (held in secret) to determine their final status and six priests' cases that were handed back for a review by a team of legal advisers, most likely leading toward the priests' permanent removal from ministry, reported 13 August 2004.

Sacred Heart College Seminary (SHS) Seminary in Detroit “complaints about psychological counseling at SHS are long-standing and widespread throughout the conservative Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Detroit. What is perceived as open hostility to conservatives at SHS and throughout the Archdiocese is talked about openly by seminarians, priests, and former seminarians. Many conservatives have simply given up on expecting any change at SHS, and many conservative priests do not recommend that conservative Catholics attend SHS. I know of many Detroit men who are studying for the priesthood outside the Archdiocese of Detroit precisely because of SHS's reputation.”

Call to Holiness Co-founded in Detroit by conservative Rev. Eduard Perrone, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, educated in the local seminaries, pastor of Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit, a highly regarded leader of the orthodox faction of the Church in Detroit.

(alphabetical listing)

[63 offenders identified, 42 listed]

Anon priest Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton (1931-) who said that he was touched inappropriately by a priest when he was a 15-year-old seminary student in Detroit when the priest took him and other boys to a cabin northeast of the city. Gumbleton said the priest started wrestling with him playfully, then put his hand down the back of Gumbleton's pants. He said he quickly removed himself from the situation; he did not elaborate. Gumbleton, who is near retirement, is known internationally for his leadership in the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi. Reported 1 January 2006.

Benjamin case Rev. Harry Benjamin (1942-), who was defrocked in 1989 after a complaint was made to the church against him, pleaded no contest to molesting a 14-year-old boy nearly two decades earlier, given one year in jail, January 2003.

Beuche affair Rev. Gary Beuche, SS. John and Paul Catholic Church in Washington Township banned from ministry, July 2002. Settled alleged abuse 2002.

Bjorklund affair Rev. Brian Bjorklund, a priest since 1966, was placed on administrative leave and restricted him from public ministry as it investigated an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor during his early years in the clergy, long before he joined the Navy in 1988. The Navy also removed him from his chaplain's post. The Vatican reinstated Bjorklund as an active priest in February 2004 because the alleged contact was not a violation of church law at the time in the 1970s, although it is now. Michigan police were told of the single abuse allegation in 2003 but did not investigate because the statute of limitations had expired.

Borycz affair Rev. Edmund Borycz was removed as pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church because of alleged sexual misconduct with children, 2002. Denied allegations.

Brennan affair Rev. William Brennan accused of abuse, removed 2003, then resigned.

Bueche affair Rev. Gary Bueche accused of abuse. Removed 2002. Settled.

Burkholder case Rev. Robert Burkholder (1929-) was charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in 1986 while the pair vacationed in Hawaii, a trip that was an eighth-grade graduation present to the boy, August 2002. Burkholder, who admitted molesting at least a dozen boys going as far back as the 1940s, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation, 1 November 2002. Wayne County, Michigan, Prosecutor Michael Duggan described Burkholder as being "one of the worst pedophiles we have ever had in this state."

Buser affair Rev. James Buser, Capuchin, accused of abuse of boys.

Campos affair Archdiocese relieved Rev. Luis Javier de Alba Campos of his duties at St. Gabriel Church on West Vernor, barring him from conducting public ministry in the archdiocese while police investigated allegations he sexually abused a 7 year-old boy, announced 4 July 2004. Campos was ordained in 1983 by the Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico, and was in Mexico prior to the assignment in pastoral administration of the Detroit church February 2004. Jury acquitted de Alba Campos 13 January 2005.

Conti affair Rev. Anthony J. Conti (Tony), All Saints, Memphis, Mich., banned from ministry, July 2002.

Daly affair Rev. Michael Daly, former chaplain at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, banned from ministry, July 2002.

De Alba affair Rev. Luis Javier de Alba Campos

DeLorenzo affair Rev. Vincent DeLorenzo (1939-) at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Burton, admitted having molested an 8-year-old boy more than a hundred times over five years, while he attended St. Pius X Catholic Church in Flint Township, Michigan, late-1970s. DeLorenzo resigned January 2002.

Depp case Rev. Harold Charles Depp (1931-) convicted 1982. He was arrested 29 May 2003 at his Palm Springs home, after the man he allegedly abused in 1971 and 1972 went to authorities because he had heard that Depp was working with children in California. Depp case did not go forward because of a US Supreme Court decision banning the prosecution of old cases.

Duggan affair Rev. Dennis D. Duggan accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Ellinghausen affair Rev. Jude Ellinghausen accused of abuse, removed 2002. Denied allegations.

Flake case Rev. Larry A. Flake was convicted of misconduct with girl.

Femminineo affair Rev. Joseph Femminineo accused of abuse, resigned 1992, removed 2002.

Haener affair Rev. Robert Haener, former chaplain at Angela Hospice, Livonia, accused of abuse, banned from ministry, July 2002.

Johnston affair Rev. Tom Johnston, Dominican, of St. Clair Shores parish, by his own admission was sexually out of control that started when he was spotted by a parishioner in a gay bar in Detroit, a destination Johnston said he sometimes chose as he began sexually acting out. Or the time Johnston took two children to an upstairs bedroom in the rectory to see a friend's painting of a muscular, nude Jesus on the cross and the priest pointed out that he had posed for it. Johnston's friendship with the younger Dominican priest, the man who painted the nude picture of Jesus was reflected in them going off together and ignoring parish duties. And then there was the pursuit of the 16-year-old boy that included showing him R-rated movies in the rectory. Johnston said his desires became so uncontrollable in late 1998 that he fondled the genitals of a patient while making pastoral calls in a Macomb County hospital. He admitted, taking funds from his Dominican order, to finance a trip to Germany with a 16-year-old parishioner at St. Gertrude Church and a drunken Johnston entered the boy’s bedroom, began talking explicitly about his sexual adventures and masturbated himself, June 1999. Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Britt, the man in charge of dealing with accusations of sex abuse, testified that his only interest was in making sure that the Dominicans removed Johnston. After leaving St. Gertrude, Johnston spent six months in treatment at the Southdown Institute in Aurora, Ontario. Removed 1999.

1. Dominican cover-up In a move to St. Gertrude parish, Dominicans' Chicago staff assured Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida in 1995 that Johnston and a second priest, the Rev. Michael Ruthenberg, Johnston’s local superior, were clergy in good standing. A letter about the two priests concluded: “Neither has experienced problems with substance abuse, violations of celibacy, sexual impropriety, physical abuse or financial impropriety.” Ruthenberg testified that he was a recovering alcoholic at the time and after about a year in Michigan, his addiction to alcohol was out of control again and he left for treatment.

Laesch affair Rev. Dennis Laesch accused of abuse of teenage boy, removed. Denied allegation.

Lezuchowski affair Rev. Walter Lezuchowski (d. 2006) ordained in 1959, at St. Aloysius, Romulus, was barred in 1991 from working in churches after the archdiocese concluded that he had abused a girl aged 16. In early May 2002, Cardinal Maida’s spokesmen said he was still on restricted duty, then acknowledged the next day that Father Lezuchowski had been serving at a church for the last five years. The spokesmen said they could not explain the situation. Lezuchowski was then removed from ministry after prosecutors said they had received a criminal complaint against him, alleging abuse that occurred before he was sent to treatment in the early 1990s, July 2002. Vatican banned him from dressing or working as a Catholic priest, 2005.

Malawy affair Rev. Michael Malawy, pastor of St. Joseph parish in Maybee, was accused of sexual misconduct the early years of his ministry with an underage boy and was put on administrative leave 21 August 2004. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office declined to investigate the claims because the statute of limitations had expired,

Martell affair Rev. Dennis Martell accused of abuse, removed. Laicized.

Maxwell affair Rev. Bruce Maxwell, Crosier Fathers, accused of abuse, removed.

Miller affair Rev. Alfred Miller, repeatedly abused Gregory Szkarlat in the 1970s. Miller was pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Temperance since 1982, resigned and decided to retire after archdiocese officials received an allegation of sexual misconduct it deemed credible, July 2002.

Moeglein affair Rev. James Moeglein, Crosier Fathers, accused of abuse, removed.

Murray affair Rev. Timothy Murray, pastor of St. Edith parish in Livonia, was accused of sexual misconduct the early years of his ministry with an underage boy and was put on administrative leave 21 August 2004. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office declined to investigate the claims because the statute of limitations had expired,

Nawrocki case Rev. Lawrence Nawrocki, then pastor of St. Isidore Church in Macomb Township. Parents went to the police with sexual abuse accusations, convicted 1989 for abuse of boys, released in 1994.

O'Brien affair Rev. Thomas O'Brien, Crosier Fathers accused of abuse, removed.

Olszewski case Rev. Edward Olszewski (1932-), convicted by a jury in December 2002 of molesting a Detroit youth in the 1970s. He was sentenced to three years of probation, the judge saying she believes Olszewski “poses absolutely no danger to society.” having been convicted on four counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor, Albert Green who testified that the priest molested him repeatedly while he lived at St. Cecilia rectory during his mother’s illness. The victim said Olszewski became like a father to him, gave him marijuana and alcohol, and abused him into adulthood. “I was 11 years old, poor and fatherless,” said Green, adding that the attention made him feel like “the special one.” Green said that on the first night, they went to Olszewski's bedroom and drank some wine. Then Olszewski took out some Vaseline and “he was rubbing it on me, on my front and my back. He put it up into my rectum. I felt something really weird. I just turned over and felt something else go inside of it” “He said he loved me and that the sex was normal, and all fathers and sons have sex like that.” He was convicted of molesting a Detroit youth in the 1970s and sentenced three years probation December 2002. Olszewski was acquitted of four counts of sodomy, 30 January 2003.

1. Probation violated Authorities arrested Olszewski after probation officers doing a routine sweep found the books of a sexual nature, June 2005. But Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Diane Hathaway said the books were not sexually explicit, as they were sex manuals, and did not violate Olszewski's probation, 15 July 2005.

Quane affair Rev. Ralph Quane accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Shirilla affair Rev. Gerald Shirilla removed from ministry in 2002, sued for alleged abuse of boy 2002.

Sigler case Rev. Jason E. Sigler (1939-), a serial sex abuser treated by the Brothers of the Paraclete in New Mexico 1975, left the priesthood in the early 1980s. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Warfield Moore called the church's shuffling of Sigler from Michigan to New Mexico a conspiracy and suggested the unique relationship between priest and parishioner overrides that the normal statute of limitations to sue had expired. “They allowed, with consistency, a one-man wrecking crew to go through, and when it got too hot, they said, ‘Go somewhere else,’ ” he said during a hearing 19 August 2004.

1. Wayne County case Sigler was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest to criminal sexual conduct involving two boys in Wayne County, 1983.
2. Genesee County case Sigler faced three counts in Genesee County Circuit Court, each of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving two brothers when he was a priest in Flushing parish Michigan, where he had spent eight months before moving to New Mexico in 1975. Sigler was sentenced to 7 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct for molesting Anthony Otero who served as an altar boy at St. Robert Bellarmine at the same time as Antos, 4 August 2003. Otero also filed a civil case.
3. Antos accusation Onetime altar boy Patrick Antos, a native of Flushing in Genesee County, Michigan, was abused by Jason Sigler from fall of 1974 until mid-1975 when Sigler was assigned to St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Flushing. “Seeing Father Sigler's face in the newspaper article flooded me with emotion and tears. I have been trying to bury the abuse all my life, with drugs and alcohol.” Antos wrote as a prisoner in Utah in 2002, where he is serving a 7- to 25-year prison sentence received for an armed robbery to support his drug habit. He sued the Archdioceses of Detroit and Santa Fe, the Diocese of Lansing and several Roman Catholic leaders 4 May 2004.
4. Hazel Park conviction Sigler was convicted of molesting Michael Reinhardt, an altar boy he befriended at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Hazel Park. Reinhardt also filed a civil case.

Sito case Rev. Joseph Sito convicted 1999, removed in 2002.

Szott affair Rev. Timothy J. Szott (1948-2008), ordained in 1973 in the Archdiocese of Detroit, was permanently removed from ministry in 2005. He died of leukemia whilst living in Tucson, Arizona, 2008.

1. Child pornography conviction Discovery of child pornography on a Catholic church’s computer system in Utica led to Rev. Timothy Szott of St. Lawrence Church who became the 17th priest disciplined for sexual misconduct involving minors in metro Detroit since March 2002. But he was the first of the 17 men linked to misconduct that occurred since that time, 13 February 2003. Pleaded no contest and sentenced to 18 months probation, 22 September 2003. Szott was registered a sex offender in Michigan related to this conviction
2. Michigan lawsuit In a $25,000 civil action filed in Michigan’s Wayne County, Szott was accused of molesting a former altar boy (b. 1990) during a family vacation in 1999, April 2008.

Van der Linden affair Rev. Peter Van der Linden accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Vedro affair Rev. James Vedro, Crosier Fathers, accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Vesnaugh affair Rev. Gerald Vesnaugh accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Williams affair Rev. Ronald Williams accused of abuse, removed 2002.

Wolf affair Rev. James Wolf, Capuchin, accused of abuse of boys.

Wysocki affair Rev. James Wysocki accused of abuse, removed 2003.

Wyzgoski affair Rev. Robert Wyzgoski (1934-2007), served at St. Benedict in Waterford, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Harper Woods, St. Christopher and St. Suzanne in Detroit, and St. Veronica in Eastpointe before becoming pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Beverly Hills from 1996 to 2002. He was accused of sexual misconduct with teenage girls in the 1960s in Wayne County, removed 2002 and the Vatican banned hum from dressing or working as a Catholic priest in 2005.