Allegations of sexual misconduct were made against 51 priests since 1950; no allegations involving minors since 2002
GRAND RAPIDS — The Michigan Attorney General's Office released a report Dec. 15 detailing allegations of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the fifth of seven expected reports related to an investigation into the handling of abuse cases in each of Michigan's Catholic dioceses.
Like Michigan's other dioceses, the Diocese of Grand Rapids has "cooperated fully with the Office of the Michigan Attorney General since the launch of its investigation in 2018," Grand Rapids Bishop David J. Walkowiak said in a letter to the faithful in response to the report.
"As part of the investigation, the Diocese gave the Attorney General’s Office our internal files, which they have retained for the past seven years," Bishop Walkowiak said. "We share a common goal in this investigation — to shine a light into the darkness of sexual abuse and to better understand how we can improve our efforts to protect children and other vulnerable people."
The report details allegations dating back to 1950 and involving both diocesan and religious order priests who have served in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
The allegations listed in the report "(do) not reflect a determination by the Department that the allegations are credible or otherwise substantiated or indicative of a crime," the Attorney General's report states.
Over that 75-year period, the report details allegations of abuse against 152 victims by 51 priests serving in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. During that time frame, more than 1,000 priests have served the diocese.
Of the 51 priests, 37 are known or presumed to be dead. Of the 14 living priests, "none are in active ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids," and no additional charges have been filed against any of the priests listed in the report as a result of the investigation, the Attorney General's Office said.
The report includes allegations of clergy misconduct involving both minors and adults, including "details on consensual relationships between priests and adults," Bishop Walkowiak said. Allegations against 14 of the 51 accused priests involve misconduct with adults.
All of the allegations involving minors occurred before 2002, the year the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted its Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Bishop Walkowiak said.
While the report highlights "the failings of priests over a 75-year period," Bishop Walkowiak said the Church has made great strides to address clerical abuse, support victim-survivors and enact safe environment policies, especially since the charter's enactment.
The fact that no allegations involving minors have taken place since 2002 is "evidence that these safeguards are working," Bishop Walkowiak said.
Bishop Walkowiak highlighted the Diocese of Grand Rapids' zero-tolerance policy, which mandates anyone "suspected of abusing a child or vulnerable adult is immediately removed from public ministry until a civil and canonical investigation is complete."
In addition, "(e)very allegation — even those made against a deceased member of the clergy or reported long after the criminal statute of limitations has run out — is immediately reported to the appropriate civil authority," the bishop said. Even if criminal charges "cannot be or are not filed," each allegation is also presented to the Diocesan Review Board.
To help care for victim-survivors, the diocese employs a victim assistance coordinator who "answers calls from victim-survivors, arranges for counseling, and encourages them to make a report to civil authorities," Bishop Walkowiak said.
"Additionally, I have personally met and will continue to meet with victim-survivors to hear their stories and to offer them my prayerful support," Bishop Walkowiak said.
Like most U.S. Catholic dioceses, the Diocese of Grand Rapids mandates Virtus safe environments training for clergy, teachers, staff and volunteers, and more than 33,000 people have participate in the program since 2002.
The diocese also has passed an independent child safety compliance audit every year since 2002, the bishop said.
Bishop Walkowiak encouraged those impacted by abuse to contact the Attorney General's hotline at (844) 324-3374 to make a report, and to contact the Diocese of Grand Rapids' victim assistance coordinator at (616) 840-2079.
"The Diocese of Grand Rapids — and I as your bishop — remain committed to the promises we made more than 20 years ago. I thank our priests, teachers, and laity for their vigilance in this important work," Bishop Walkowiak said. "We will continue to work to ensure the voices of victim-survivors are heard and they have resources available to find healing and peace. Please join me in praying for all who have been impacted by the Church’s scandal-ridden past. May our continued actions ensure we keep the most vulnerable among us safe and secure."
The Attorney General's reports so far have covered the dioceses of Marquette, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Grand Rapids, with reports expected in 2026 regarding the Diocese of Saginaw and the Archdiocese of Detroit.
