LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report on allegations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Lansing.
The 300-page document was released on Dec. 16, 2024, to acknowledge the reports of abuse from victims and to report the Department of Attorney General’s findings.
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The report includes excerpts from the information received from the tip line, victim interviews, police investigations, open-source media, paper documents taken from the Diocese of Lansing, and electronics found on the diocesan computers, including reports of allegations disclosed by the Diocese.
The report has a list of 48 priests, three religious brothers and an apparent former religious brother, and four deacons who had sexual misconduct allegations against either children or adults since Jan. 1, 1950. 42 were ordained or incardinated by the Diocese of Lansing. The list was taken from information gleaned from a search warrant that was executed against the Diocese of Lansing on Oct. 3, 2018, and from the tip line from the attorney general’s office since 2018.
“These reports are important, not just because we made a promise to the survivors years ago, but because victims, especially in cases like these where the assaults were perpetrated by entrusted members of a community, are often silenced – in some cases for decades or a lifetime,” Nessel said. “By publishing these reports, we are sharing their stories and validating their experiences. Criminal prosecutions are just one accountability metric. Ensuring each victim is heard, regardless of how long ago the sexual abuse and misconduct may have been, is important in acknowledging their pain and fostering a culture that prioritizes these victims over their silence.”
The report has descriptions of sexual abuse allegations and other sexual misconduct, including grooming and misuse of authority against minors and adults.
Due to the statute of limitations or the accused priest is dead, possible criminal prosecution of many of the cases is barred. There are also some people who talked about sexual abuse but did not pursue criminal charges.
“Having read this long and detailed report, my heart breaks for all those who have suffered due to the evil of clerical sexual abuse which is a great betrayal of Jesus Christ, His Holy Church, the priesthood, and, most gravely, those victims – and their families – who were harmed physically, emotionally, but above all spiritually when they were so young,” said Bishop Earl Boyea, who has been at the helm of the Diocese of Lansing since 2008.
“To all those injured by such criminal and immoral actions I say clearly and without hesitation: these terrible things should never have happened to you; I am so deeply sorry that they ever did; please be assured of my prayers, penance, love and support.”
