DETROIT, MI CREDIBLY ACCUSED

HomeDETROIT, MI CREDIBLY ACCUSED
Fr. John Baptist Kurcz
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John Baptist/Donald Kurcz. Identified in 6/18/13 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as former friar with confirmed reports of sexual abuse of minors. Kurcz’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him except that he left the order in 1958 and married.

Fr. Dennis Laesch
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Entered seminary at age 36; there were complaints then of unwanted propositions toward another student and of violence. Accused of abusing a 17-year-old boy in 1997, who came forward in 2002. Authorities declined to prosecute. Archdiocese paid $125K settlement. Named in 2004 civil suit. Permanently barred from public ministry by the Vatican in 2007.

Fr. Richard Lauinger
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On 3/28/16 the archdiocese announced credible allegations that Lauinger sexually abused minors while in ministry. A woman disclosed publicly that Lauinger raped her when she was 10 years old in the 1950s and attending Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington MI, where Lauinger was a priest. She filed a police report in 2/16; no prosecution due to statute of limitations. Lauinger also worked at parishes in Detroit, Royal Oak, Scotland, and St. Clair Shores. Left priesthood in 1975 and moved from MI 1985. Per the archdiocese on 4/1/16, several victims had come forward since 1/16. Included on the archdiocese’s list 6/10/19. Laicized.

Fr. Walter J. Lezuchowski
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Barred from parish ministry in 1991 after the archdiocese deemed credible allegations that he had sexually abused a girl over age 16. Sent for treatment. In 2002 another criminal complaint was made. Lezuchowski had at that point been actively ministering for five years at St. Ronald’s in Clinton Township; the archdiocese said it had no idea he had been still working. Immediately suspended. Permanently banned from ministry in 2005. Died 12/29/06.

Fr. Michael D. Malawy
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Removed from ministry in 2004 after allegations of sexual misconduct in his early years of ministry. Permanently removed him from public ministry by the Vatican in 6/06. Died 7/24/15. Included on the diocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Dennis L. Martell
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Included in the archdiocese’s 9/02 Status Report. Laicized.The Catholic Directories show him assigned 1992-93 to Immaculate Conception of the BVM in Lapeer, and in 1993-94 as Absent on Leave. He is not indexed in the Directories beyond 1994. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Bruce C. Maxwell
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Worked in Indiana in 1975, Nebraska 1975-82, Detroit 1983-89. Navy chaplain 1989-2002, working in California, Bahrain, Florida, Japan and North Carolina. Removed in 2002 for abuse of a minor. Sent to the Crosier Community in Phoenix with no ministry. Died 2/17/06. On Santa Rosa diocese’s list 1/12/19. Was USCG Training Center chaplain in Petaluma and in residence at St. James 1989-92. On the Detroit archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Patrick L. McLaughlin
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Named publicly as accused by the Jesuits Midwest Province on its list 12/17/2018. Joined the order in 1925. Subject of a single allegation of abuse, occurring while assigned to the University of Detroit High School 1957-1959, reported after his death. McLaughlin died 11/12/1970. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s 6/10/2019 list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.

Br. Matthew Migan
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Identified in the 6/18/13 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a deceased friar with confirmed reports of the sexual abuse of minors. Migan’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him except that he went to the New York Province in 1952. He died 2/27/58.

Fr. Alfred J. Miller
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Allowed to officially retire in 2002 after allegations surfaced of sexual misconduct in the late 1960s or early 1970s. No priestly privileges during investigation. Claims of abuse came from more than one person and involved misconduct with older male children. A civil suit filed in 2003 and another in 2004. Permanently removed from public ministry by the Vatican in 2005. Died 5/19/21.

Fr. James Moeglein
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In 2002, Moeglein was one of eight Crosiers barred from public ministry and living under restriction after allegations of sexual misconduct. He worked in the Riverview, MI area 1989-90. One 2000 news article refers to Moeglein as prior of a Crosier Monastery in NE until mid-2000. Living in Crosier Community in Onamia MN beginning 2000. No faculties since 6/02 and as of 2014 was living under safety plan. Named as credibly accused by the Diocese of St. Cloud in 3/14. Name added 11/17 to St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese to list of “priests and religious brothers who have served or spent time in the archdiocese and have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor against them.” Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Deacon Frank Mullen
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Deacon at Most Holy Trinity Parish and teacher at Holy Redeemer Parish Elementary School. Placed on leave 12/93 after complaint of abuse of a minor several years prior. Archdiocese Status Report of 10/09 noted that he had been laicized. Included on the archdiocese’s list of accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Timothy J. Murray
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Placed on administrative leave without privileges in 8/04 because of substantive allegation of sexual misconduct with a boy early in his ministry. Archdiocese reported abuse to DA’s office; no prosecution due to statute of limitations. Permanently removed from public ministry per Archdiocese Status Report dated 10/09. Arrested 12/12 on federal charges of downloading and viewing child pornography. Confessed. Pled guilty 7/13. Sentenced to 15 years in prison 1/23/14. On the archdiocese’s list 6/10/19.

Fr. Lawrence Nawrocki
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A woman complained to a regional bishop in 1981 that Nawrocki had abused her 7th grade son. The bishop talked her out of pressing charges. Convicted in 1989 of abuse of three Macomb Township boys in 1987 at St. Isidore Church after the parents banded together and complained. Sentenced to 4-15 years in prison. Released in 1994. Archdiocese said he would never be returned to public ministry. Deceased per archdiocese website accessed 10/09. Included on archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Thomas O’Brien
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Limited interaction with minors as of 1989. Removed from public ministry 10/4/02 for abuse of a minor. Worked in Riverview MI 1989-94. May also have abused in St. Paul, MN area where he worked 1994 – 2001. Lived under restriction and performing internal administrative duties for Crosier Generalate in Rome 1999-2007. Dismissed from Order 08/05/08. Living in Ohio as of 3/14. Name added 11/3/17 to St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese list of “priests and religious brothers who have served or spent time in the archdiocese and have substantiated claims of sexual abuse of a minor against them.” Included on Detroit archdiocese’s list 6/10/19.

Fr. Loren O’Dea
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Ordained in 1993 after retiring from career in social work. Given senior (retired) priest status in 1997. Was associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington. Removed without privileges 10/12 after two complaints received of abuse dating back to just prior to his ordination. Allegations deemed “substantive” by review board. Sheriff’s office notified. Died 10/14/15, age 87. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/20.

Fr. Edward Theodore Olszewski
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Accused of sodomizing his foster son starting at age 11. Found guilty by jury 12/18/02 of indecent liberties with a minor and innocent of sodomy charges; sentenced 1/30/03 to 3 years probation. New trial denied 3/13/03. Civil suit filed 12/22/03 in FL alleging abuse there. Conviction reversed 12/8/05 by MI Supreme Court: Olszewski “was deprived of an impartial jury.” Prosecutor did not retry because sentence mostly served. Removed from MI and FL sex-offender registries. Ministry remains restricted. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s 6/10/19 list of credibly accused.

Fr. Thaddeus Ozog
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First named publicly by the archdiocese as accused in 11/18. Three years prior and again in 2018 a man reported sexual abuse as a minor by Ozog. The archdiocesan review board deemed the allegation credible in 2018. Ozog, a monsignor, was assigned to parishes in Detroit, Birmingham, Waterford Township, Wayne, Flat Rock and Hamtramck. From 1959 to 1975 he was a teacher, registrar, dean and rector at Sacred Heart Seminary. He died in 1994. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Eduard Perrone
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Pastor for 25 years Assumption of the BVM. Suspended 7/5/19 after archdiocese found an allegation of sexual abuse of a boy decades prior had “a semblance of truth.” Denied the allegation. Allegedly would invite altar boys to a lake house, wrestle with them in the water, sometimes groping them. A second former altar boy came forward after Perrone’s removal alleging the priest rubbed his genitals in 1981. Case sent to Vatican; declined to pursue. Perrone was a co-founder in 2002 of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, a group formed to support priests accused of abuse. A woman whose father co-founded Opus Bono, spoke out about his alleged abuse of boys, and said Perrone gave her alcohol in the rectory beginning when she was age 12. He sued her for defamation. His parishioners sued the archdiocese in 2/20, claiming it “fabricated” a rape charge against Perrone. In 7/20 an arbitration panel found that Perrone was the target of defamation; he was awarded $125K. In 9/20 he also sued Msgr. Michael Bugarin.

Fr. Thomas R. Physician
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In a 5/04 civil suit filed by four men against four priests, a man alleged that Physician had abused him at Precious Blood parish from age 14 to 17 in the early 1970s. Physician, who had retired in 2002, was placed on leave 1/3/04. Police investigated but no charges filed. Archdiocese said charges were “serious and substantive.” Died 8/23/04. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Ralph Quane
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Removed in 5/02 from his assignment as a hospital chaplain due to allegations that he sexually abused a minor in the early years of his ministry. Ordered not to wear priestly garb or represent himself as a priest. Laicization announced 5/05. Included on the diocese’s list 6/10/19.

Fr. Austin Schlaefer
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Identified in 6/18/2013 Capuchin audit report as a deceased friar with confirmed reports of the sexual abuse of minors. He died 6/19/1992 in Saginaw, MI. Worked in Milwaukee, Detroit and Chicago. On the Saginaw diocese’s list by 8/9/2019. Name included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese’s list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.

Fr. Gary Schulte
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Removed without privileges from assignment at St. Sylvester’s in Warren 10/29/11 after allegations of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old boy in 1991. Schulte was working at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Madison Heights at the time of the alleged abuse. Review board found allegations had enough validity to warrant restrictions. No criminal charges to be filed due to the statute of limitations. Included on the archdiocese’s list 6/10/19. Permanently removed from public ministry.

Fr. Wendelin Shafer
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“Leslie.” Worked as a missioner in Central America for 52 years. Joined the Central American Vice Province. Retired and returned to Wisconsin. Died 10/09/05. Identified in 6/18/13 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a deceased friar with confirmed reports of sexual abuse of minors. Shafer’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him.

Fr. Gerald Shirilla
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Accused of abuse of at least seven youths 1972-1981. Named in several civil suits. Moved to the Gaylord diocese. Placed on leave in 2002. Died 2004. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19, which noted that he had been removed from public ministry.

Fr. Jason E. Sigler
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Ordained for the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, Canada. In Detroit and Lansing dioceses from 1968. Sent to Paracletes in NM for treatment 1960s-70s; worked in NM parishes; abused again. Named by 45 victims in lawsuits. In NM 17 men settled for $13M in 1993. Pled guilty 1983 to abuse of child; got probation and counseling. Laicized 1999. Many new allegations in MI in 2002. Arrested and convicted twice in MI in 2003. Included in new civil suits. Released 5/12 from jail and 11/13 from probation. Living in Albuquerque NM 2014; said in 8/14 to be living with his wife in Taylor Ranch. On sex offender list. Named in at least one new civil suit filed 8/14. Another suit filed 5/16 re alleged abuse of 10- or 11-year-old Fort Sumner NM altar boy in 1974. Suit filed 7/17 re abuse of boy in Las Vegas NM parish late 1970s for 2 years. On Santa Fe archdiocese list 9/12/17. On Lansing diocese’s list 9/27/19. On Detroit’s list 6/10/19.

Fr. Joseph Sito
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Resigned in 1993 after credible allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor in the 1960s. Victim told archdiocese in 1985, but no action. Told them again in 1993 and Sito “retired.” Banned from public ministry after treatment at two facilities. Criminally charged in 1999 with molesting a 17-year-old youth. Sito pleaded guilty to lesser charge and paid a fine. Would still say mass on occasion. Laicization announced 1/12/04. Died 1/4/16, age 80, in car crash outside of Detroit. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Jason E. Sigler
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Spent 31 years as a priest in Nicaragua. Identified in 6/18/13 “Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph” as current friar with confirmed reports of sexual abuse of minors. Smetana’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him. Removed from public ministry, living under supervision. Included on the La Crosse diocese’s list 1/18/20, where he worked at some point at St. Henry in Eau Galle. Permanently removed from ministry.

Fr. Gerald F. Smola
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Named publicly as accused by the Jesuits Midwest Province on its list 12/17/2018. Joined the order in 1938. A single allegation was received after his death, of abuse occurring while assigned to University of Detroit Jesuit High School in the 1950s. Smola was dismissed 11/14/1969. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/2019. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.

Fr. Robert Spader
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Identified in 6/18/13 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as former friar with confirmed reports of sexual abuse of minors. Spader’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him. Left the order at some point. Ordained in 1964 as “Fr. Edwin” Spader.

Br. Francis Mary Sparacino
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Identified in the 6/18/2013 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a current friar with confirmed reports of the sexual abuse of minors. Sparacino’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him. Served most of career as tailor for the Province of St. Joseph. Living in 8/2013 under supervision in a nursing home. Died 1/19/2015. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.

Fr. Kenneth Stewart
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Identified in the 6/18/2013 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a former friar with confirmed reports of the sexual abuse of minors. Stewart’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him. The audit reported that he had been removed from ministry and placed under supervision. He left the Order and was laicized at some point. On the Saginaw diocese’s list by 8/9/2019, where he was assigned 1973-1974. Name included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese’s list of credibly accused. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report. 

Fr. Timothy J. Szott
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Placed on leave in 2/03 after a church volunteer found child abuse images on his computer. Arraigned in 6/03; posted bail before returning to treatment at St. Luke’s. Sentenced in 9/03 to 18 months probation after pleading no contest to possession of child pornography. Permanently removed from ministry in 2005. Sued in 4/08 for abuse of a youth in 1999. His victim had just turned 18. Other complaints too old to prosecute. Died in 8/08 in AZ. Sued again in 11/08. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. John Tyminski
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Ordained in Poland. Arrived in the U.S. in 1950. Retired 1976. Died 1984. Named publicly by the archdiocese as accused in 5/19. The archdiocese said it received an allegation over ten years prior, after Tyminski’s death. A second victim came forward in early 2019. The Review Board deemed the allegations credible. Included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Peter J. Van der Linden
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Publicly named as accused for first time in archdiocesan press release 10/02. Had been removed in 1993 after “serious and substantive allegation of sexual misconduct dating back to the early years of his ministry.” On medical leave of absence since 1991 but had begun working part time at Cardinal Mooney High School, Marine City, in 1993. Permanently removed from ministry 5/05. Died in 2/07.

Fr. Lawrence M. Ventline
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In 2016, an allegation of abuse by Ventline was brought to the Archdiocese of Detroit, which referred the complaint to the Oakland County prosecutor, conducted a canonical review, and restricted Ventline from public ministry. On 5/24/19 Michigan AG Dana Nessel announced that Ventline ‘is facing an administrative complaint and his license as a professional educationally limited counselor has been summarily suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).’ The Administrative Complaint alleged that Ventline had ‘sexually assaulted’ an 11-year-old boy three times in the church sacristy in 1989-1990. At the time, Ventline was pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion MI. Ventline denied the allegations, saying he was the victim, and stated that ‘a lawsuit will be filed’ against the AG. On 6/10/19, Ventline was included on the list of Clergy Credibly Accused of Abuse published by the Detroit archdiocese, which noted that he was restricted from public ministry and stated that he ‘is prohibited from representing himself as a priest, wearing clerical attire, exercising any form of church ministry.’ His license was revoked on 9/6/19, after ‘Ventline failed to file a formal response to the complaint,’ and he was fined $5,000. On 9/30/19, a news report stated that Ventline had been charged with indecent exposure in Bad Axe MI in early summer 2019. On 1/23/20, Ventline pleaded no contest to the charge, which does not constitute an admission of guilt. Judge reportedly relied on court documents to enter a conviction on the record and sentenced Ventline to ten days in jail. Ventline stated that he completed nine days of community service instead. On 10/5/20 the Michigan AG summarized the Ventline case in her second year update: ‘Ventline faced three separate reports of sexual abuse of a minor. The statute of limitations expired on each report of abuse but LARA was able to remove the professional counseling license of Ventline to ensure that he would not be able to legally counsel children.’ Ventline states that he had retired from counseling before the Administrative Complaint was filed on 5/15/19.

Fr. Gerald John Vesnaugh
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Forced from the priesthood in 1975 after molesting children. Conviction in 1979 with suspended sentence and two years probation. Law license suspended in 1980 and revoked in 1982. Charged again in 1981 with three counts of sexual assault. Served 2 1/2 years of a 5- to 15-year sentence. Released from prison. Moved to OK in 1996; offended and was arrested. Fled to Canada. Abused two boys and was arrested. Sentenced to three years prison in 1996. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Aloysius Volskis
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From the Diocese of Telsiai, Lithuania. Accused in a 3/21 lawsuit of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy in 2010 at Bishop Kelley Catholic School in Lapeer, where the boy was a second-grader. The school was affiliated with Immaculate Conception Parish. Volskis allegedly molested and raped the boy after giving him pills that semi-sedated him during a “spiritual formation” session in the teacher’s lounge. Volskis ceased active ministry in the parish in 2011 after he was accused of the sexual assault of another parishioner. He returned to Europe in 2013. Per the lawsuit, church officials sheltered the priest in the church rectory, then helped him leave the country. The boy came forward to the archdiocese in around 2018.

Fr. Harold A. Walsh
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Ordained in Ireland for the Redemptorists. Worked in Davenport, Detroit, Chicago and St. Paul. A woman told Detroit in 1994 (and in 2002 and 2011) that he had abused her in the mid-1960s when she was 15 and he was assigned Holy Redeemer parish. Walsh said he had proved he was still living in a monastery in Ireland at the time. Worked in St. Paul for many years. Accused of abusing a boy there; Walsh denied the allegation. The woman received a settlement in 1996. Walsh left active ministry in 2005. Laicized 8/12/12. Taught sex education in St. Paul area until 1/31/14. Name on St. Paul and Minneapolis revised list 2/17/14.

Fr. David F. West
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BA.org Assignment Record

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Archdiocese announced in 12/15 a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a male minor in the 1970s by West, who died in 2004 at age 65. Per the announcement West served in about 20 parishes. Included on the archdiocese’s 6/10/19 list of credibly accused.

Fr. Ronald R. Williams
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Archdiocese of Detroit Press Release 9.08.02

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Accused in 6/02 of getting a male minor drunk and attempting to perform oral sex on the boy. Williams was suspended and, investigative files reveal, two other men then came forward to the prosecutor. One alleged similar abuse in 1979 at age 16. The other alleged Williams fondled his bottom at age 17 in 1984. No charges filed because SOL expired. Permanently barred by Vatican from active ministry per 4/20/07 announcement. Died 7/6/10. On the archdiocese’s 6/10/19 list of credibly accused.

Fr. Robert Witkowski
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Detroit News 10.10.18

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Retired in 2013. Restricted from public ministry in 10/18 due to credible allegations that he sexually abused minors early in his career. In a lawsuit filed in NJ in 12/19 a man claimed Witkowski, along with Rev. Thomas Ganley, abused him and other boy at St. Cecila’s in Iselin, NJ in the early 1990s.

Fr. James C. Wolf
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Accused in a civil suit along with Revs. Jim Buser and Gale Leifeld of molesting a student in the 1970s at a Capuchin run high school and after graduation. The plaintiff was a counselor for men abused by clergy and claimed his therapy in 1992 revealed flashbacks. Case tried in 1995. Jury decided it was not filed within the statute of limitations. Two of the priests admitted abusing other boys but not the plaintiff in this case. Included on the Capuchin Friars’ list of those with substantiated allegations against them 8/19/21, which notes, “Retired/Restrict in Ministry” since 2005. Included in the MI A.G.’s 10/22 report; assigned 1963-1976 in the Marquette diocese. In 2008 a man reported to the Marquette diocese that Wolf sexually abused him over two years in the 1970s when he was ages 11-12. In 2011 a man alleged abuse by Wolf when he was 20 in 1971-72.

Fr. James R. Wysocki
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Placed on leave in 2003 after the archdiocese reviewed an old allegation against Wysocki of sexual misconduct involving a minor. When the allegation was first raised, officials didn’t have enough info to proceed. It was later deemed “substantive.” Allegation was at least 15 years old and incident is said to have occurred just after Wysocki’s 1967 ordination. A second allegation of abuse in the early 1970s of teenage youth was made in 2004. Vatican ordered church trial. Permanently barred from public ministry in 2007.

Fr. Robert Wyzgoski
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Removed in 2002; “retired.” Accused of abuse of teenage girls in the 1960s. Parents were complaining of his behavior as early as 1973. Named in a civil suit in 2004. In 2005 the Vatican upheld Cardinal Maida’s decision to permanently remove Wyzgoski from pastoral duties. Died in 1/07. On the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused 6/10/19.

Fr. Hilary Zach
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Capuchin Friars St. Joseph Province List 08.19.21

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Identified in 6/18/13 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a deceased friar with confirmed reports of sexual abuse of minors. Zach’s name is included on this list without any additional information on claims against him. Spent several years at St. Lawrence Seminary as teacher and novice master, then became a hospital chaplain. Died 3/22/97.

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