Leaders within religious communities hold a significant responsibility to provide guidance and service to the people who follow them. Recent events, however, have shed light on the disturbing reality that some religious authorities have abused their power and positions to sexually abuse those under their care, particularly with minors.
These include Father Paul James Guoan sexual abuse accusations, who served in the Catholic Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.
If you or someone you love has been abused by a member of the clergy or Father Paul James Guoan himself, you have the right to take legal action against them. Our firm has successfully recovered over $1.37 billion for survivors of sexual abuse. Contact a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer to discuss your right to legal action.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases
Because of the trauma and sometimes lost memories of survivors of sexual abuse, cases are not always pursued right away. Reporting sexual abuse to legal authorities can be beneficial no matter how much time has passed.
Like with the case of Father Paul James Guoan, time may have passed, but survivors can still receive hope and healing from seeing their abuser brought to light with the help of a Michigan sexual abuse lawyer.
No matter how much time has passed, it is important to speak your truth and have your story known with the help of a Michigan personal injury lawyer. Your story may help someone know how to identify common signs of clergy abuse. Not only could it help ensure that the abuser does not have the chance to act again, but it can also help other survivors remember and come forward as well.
The statute of limitations on sexual abuse of a minor in Michigan differs depending on what kind of case you are pursuing and what degree of sexual abuse was committed. First-degree criminal charges against abusers hold no time limit.
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, the statute of limitations for a civil case is set at ten years or until a victim of child sexual abuse is 28 years old.
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
Father Paul James Guoan
Father Paul James Guoan was ordained in 1987 by the Diocese of Lansing. During his tenure, multiple allegations of sexual abuse of a minor were leveled upon him before he was removed from ministry on March 11, 2002. He worked in a variety of roles, including:
- St. Pius X in Flint, Michigan – Parochial Vicar
- St. Robert Bellarmine in Flushing, Michigan – Parochial Vicar
- St. Gerard in Lansing, Michigan – Parochial Vicar
- SS Charles and Helena in Clio, Michigan – Pastor
- Queen of the Miraculous Medal in Jackson, Michigan – Hospital Chaplain In-Residence
- St. Mary, Star of the Sea in Jackson, Michigan – Prison Chaplain In-Residence
- St. Joseph Home in Jackson, Michigan – Sacramental Minister
Paul James Guoan was laicized or officially defrocked on June 26, 2025. In 2019, the Catholic Diocese of Lansing brought forward a list of clergy with a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, which recognized Guoan along with 17 other priests with the goal of encouraging victims to come forward with their stories.
If you or someone you love was abused by Father Guoan, speak with someone from our compassionate team at White Law PLLC to tell your story and discover what legal opportunities you may have to bring about justice.
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
Credible Sexual Abuse Accusations Recognized by the Diocese of Lansing
Father Paul James Guoan was acknowledged on a list published by the Diocese of Lansing of any clergy members who have served under their organization since opening in 1937 and who were accused of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor.
This list contained the names and details of 17 other priests who have since been removed from their position of ministry or have died. They used this list to reiterate their zero-tolerance policy towards sexual abuse of minors and encourage survivors to come forward with their stories to expose abusers further and find healing.
The Diocese stated that they had received 155 reports of priests sexually abusing minors in the time since their founding. This list was compiled from 73 allegations that they claimed as credible reports of abuse of 66 boys, four girls, and three children whose gender was not specified. Most of these allegations were related to events occurring between the 1960s and the mid-1990s.
The Catholic Diocese of Lansing released this list during a time when there was a significant increase in investigations against the church as a way of showing cooperation with the Michigan Attorney General. It was released along with information on ways to report any additional abuse and get supportive counseling from the church.
If you or someone you love were abused by a priest or other leader of the Catholic church, let an experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney from White Law PLLC help pursue justice on your behalf.
Clergy Sexual Abuse Accusations
Due to the deeply traumatic nature of sexual abuse, survivors often carry a heavy burden of guilt, which causes them to blame themselves and hold the knowledge of the abuse as a secret. These complex emotions can create a significant internal struggle for survivors. It is important to remember that guilt for the abuse lies solely with the perpetrator.
But too often, survivors completely block the memory out of their abuse as a psychological defense mechanism. The brain, in an attempt to protect itself from the overwhelming emotional pain of the trauma, may unconsciously suppress the memory, known as dissociative amnesia. The process of recovering those memories can be challenging, but only by acknowledging the trauma that occurred can survivors truly reclaim their lives.
Pursuing justice through legal action can be a healing experience for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Our case results speak for themselves, with so many of our clients finding empowerment through speaking their stories and finding hope in the future. If you were abused by Father Paul James Guoan or another member of the clergy in Michigan, working with a clergy sexual abuse lawyer may help you find healing.
Set Up a Free Consultation with Our Clergy Abuse Legal Team
At White Law PLLC, our Michigan personal injury lawyers work to empower survivors of sexual abuse to pursue their legal rights and hold their abusers accountable for their actions, like that of Father Paul James Guoan. Set up a free case consultation with our clergy abuse legal team by calling our office. We are ready to fight for the justice you deserve.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
