Sexual abuse in the Catholic church has become so prevalent in modern society that most people can tell you something about it. While this is a nationwide and organization-wide problem, it also affects us locally in Michigan dioceses. As reports of sexual abuse allegations at the Diocese of Saginaw surfaced, the Michigan attorney general initiated an investigation into these allegations and has taken significant steps to help survivors find closure.
White Law PLLC. has been actively present and invested in these cases, representing survivors in their efforts to seek justice from their abusers and reclaim control over their story. Our Saginaw clergy sexual abuse lawyer has worked countless cases with the primary goal of supporting the survivor in seeking justice. If a member of the Diocese of Saginaw has sexually abused you, you may be eligible for compensation.
Diocese of Saginaw Investigation
The Diocese of Saginaw was included in the statewide investigation regarding sexual abuse allegations that the Michigan attorney general began in 2018. On October 3, 2018, the investigating team collaborated with local law enforcement offices and executed search warrants at all seven Michigan Diocese at the same time. The warrants allowed investigators to seize millions of paper and electronic documents.
In a statement given by the Michigan attorney general, the investigation is focused on both abusers and those who may have helped cover the abuse. In some cases of Catholic church clergy abuse, the Diocese has moved abusers from assignment to assignment when concerns arise, and they fail to report the accusations.
The team dedicated to these investigations is releasing reports on each diocese one at a time. As of September 2024, the report regarding sexual abuse allegations at the Diocese of Saginaw has yet to be published. However, the Bishop Accountability Database has provided information regarding the 16 accused individuals so far.
Outcomes
The age of many of these reports can make prosecution difficult due to the lack of physical evidence and the degradation of eyewitness memories. However, investigators have been successful in gaining nine convictions so far. Some of the offenders from the Diocese of Saginaw have seen convictions.
The attorney general has attributed the success in obtaining convictions to the team tasked with working the cases. This team utilized person-centered approaches, including trauma-informed interview styles. The varied experience and educated approach to the investigation were considered crucial to the success so far.
Effects of Sexual Abuse Allegations
Occurrences of sexual abuse in the church can devastate the community. In one clergy abuse report, it was determined that some areas saw consistent sexual abuse in the diocese for nearly three-quarters of a century. This kind of trauma and violation of trust can break a community.
When abuse is this prevalent and kept silent for this long, the trauma can bleed into other generations, affecting so many more people than just the initial victims. Many people find connection and home in the Diocese of Saginaw, and credible or confirmed sexual abuse allegations can be insidious in fracturing the bonds of the community. If you have experienced abuse at the hands of a clergy member, our legal team at White Law PLLC. is ready to help.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Diocese of Saginaw List of Accused
The official reports from the Michigan attorney general’s office regarding those credibly accused or substantiated at the Diocese of Saginaw have yet to be released. Of the 16 accused in this diocese, two have seen convictions. Many of those on the list died a decade or more before the investigation started and received sexual abuse allegations dating to the early 1900s, such as:
- Fr. Thomas William Ryan
- Fr. Elmer Stoffel
- Fr. Neil Francis O’Connor
- Fr. James Aloysius Mulvey
- Fr. Joseph Szarek
- Fr. Martin Ignatius Kalahari
- Fr. James Andrew Marron
- Fr. Jack J. Leipert
Fr. Robert DeLand Jr.
Robert Deland was arrested in early 2018 on charges regarding the sexual assault of a 21-year-old and 17-year-old boy. Several more people made sexual abuse allegations, and he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 2-15 years in prison in 2019. Fr. Deland was laicized in November of 2022.
Fr. Ronald J Dombrowski
Fr. Dombrowski was suspended in 2018 after leadership received sexual abuse allegations at the Diocese of Saginaw regarding him. In July of 2021, Fr. Ronald J Dombrowski was removed from the ministry.
Deacon Richard L Howard
Ordained in 1977, Deacon Howard served as a teacher at All Saints High School and served in Stanislaus parish. He was suspended in 1988 and laicized in 2006. Details are not provided regarding his allegations, but his name was released in 2018 as a cleric permanently removed due to credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.
Fr. John Steven Rabideau
Father Rabideau faced sexual abuse allegations at the Diocese of Saginaw in 1998 regarding the abuse of three boys. He fled the country when the police issued a warrant for his arrest. Father John Steven Rabideau was sentenced to 5-20 years in prison. He was prosecuted in the diocese.
Fr. Richard T. Szafranski
In 2006, Father Szafranski was accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor dating back to the mid-70s. He admitted to a relationship with the child when he was 27, and she was a teen as young as 13 in some reports. There are no documented criminal charges, but the Diocese added him to the list of credible allegations, and he was permanently removed from the ministry.
Call a Michigan Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
Sexual abuse is coated in shame for many who have been victimized. While the shame belongs only to the abuser, the Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer with White Law PLLC understands that breaking the silence can be a scary and painful experience. When you are ready, we will be here to help you hold your abuser accountable and fight for your right to seek justice.
Our firm offers free case consultations that you can schedule with no commitment. We also offer a contingency fee structure, meaning you don’t owe us money until we recover compensation for your pain and injuries. You don’t have to do this alone.
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