Complaints against clergy members in the Catholic Church have been making their way into the public eye for close to 20 years. As a society, we trust our religious leaders to be a safe haven for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as witnessed with the Father Timothy Desrochers sexual abuse accusations.
Coping with sexual abuse is something that can strip anyone of their vibrance and quality of life. The effects extend beyond the initial months and affect every aspect of the individual’s life in many cases.
If you have been forced to endure sexual abuse at the hand of Father Timothy Desrochers or any other clergy member and feel ready to take action, you can reach out to our Michigan clergy sex abuse lawyer at White Law PLLC. to determine your legal options. Our team has recovered over $1.4 billion in personal injury settlements and verdic.
Sexual Abuse Accusations against Timothy Desrochers
According to the above-cited AG report on findings from the Diocese of Marquette, Father Timothy Desrochers faced sexual abuse accusations in 2003.
Records show that the survivor was incredibly upset while sharing the experience during confession to Father Alexander Sample and that Fr Desrochers stated there were others he may have done this to.
Upon hearing the disclosure, Fr. Sample confronted Desrochers, who denied the allegation. Fr. Sample accepted this as an appropriate investigation and notified the survivor that the allegations could not be substantiated. He stated that the church would pay for counseling services to give the survivor the ‘benefit of the doubt.’
Four years later, Fr. Sample received five pictures of Desrochers nude. The pictures were from a website called silverdaddy.com, which is a space for older men to connect with younger men sexually.
Following this revelation, the church withdrew many of Desrochers’ privileges. If you or a loved one experienced something similar, contact our Michigan sexual abuse lawyers.
Father Timothy Desrochers Prisoner Exploitation
In 2010, Bishop Sample learned that Desrochers had further violated his sacred duties by exploiting a prisoner for sexual favors.
Bishop Sample obtained a recording of a phone call where an inmate requested Desrochers to attend a hearing in support, hoping to receive a reduced sentence.
The Father asked what it was worth to the prisoner and ultimately agreed to appear for ‘quite a few’ acts of oral sex. Our Michigan personal injury lawyers will represent survivors in such cases.
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
The reports of sexual abuse that occurred dating back to the 1950s are extensive, though many of them did not come forward until the early 1990s.
This string of reports prompted the Michigan Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to open an investigation into the Catholic Church clergy abuse. In 2018, a Michigan task force executed seven warrants simultaneously on the Michigan diocese.
The Michigan AGO collected evidence from these warrants and will release reports to each diocese as it completes investigations. The Diocese of Marquette: A Complete Accounting was released in 2022 and updated in 2024. This identified and reported on 44 clergy members, including the sexual abuse accusations against Father Timothy Desrochers.
The allegations against clergy members in the Diocese of Marquette range from inappropriate contact to penetrative assault. Some reports claim the survivor disclosed the abuse with no action from leadership. Others were too afraid or otherwise unready to disclose their abuse until decades later.
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
Understanding Clergy Sexual Abuse
Many people think that sexual abuse only applies to penetrative rape, but Michigan law provides a much broader definition. When we try to understand what clergy abuse is, we look at it as any form of misconduct or exploitation by a religious leader or official.
Some of the commonly seen acts of sexual abuse, including some alleged by Father Timothy Desrochers, include:
- Groping or touching for sexual gratification
- Any type of sexual contact with a minor
- Coercive sexual contact
- Offering services in exchange for sexual favors
- Sending sexually explicit material without consent
Clergy sexual abuse can be particularly insidious due to the way it leverages the inherent authority of a clerical position. The designation of church leadership gives them both divine authority and community trust. The addition of spiritual implications can compound the shame and doubt many survivors face.
Delayed Disclosure in Child Sexual Abuse
A common occurrence that has come into focus in recent years is delayed reporting. According to a recent report on delayed disclosure from CHILD USA, as many as 86% of cases of child sexual abuse go unreported before the survivor is an adult due to a number of barriers, including fear of disbelief or the abuser’s retaliation.
The Attorney General report states that Desrochers stated the abuse was the survivors ‘struggle as well,’ possibly indicating the shame of the act would follow the child if they disclosed it.
White Law PLLC firmly believes that the shame of sexual abuse lies only with the abuser. We understand that these experiences can take many years to process, and we will not hold the amount of time passed against you.
It is critical to know that even if your abuse happened years ago, a clergy abuse lawyer may be able to help.
Call a Michigan Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
The decision to take any form of legal action against the person who abused you is significant. If you have concerns about how long ago your abuser acted or whether you have a case, you can reach out to our Michigan clergy sexual abuse attorney for a free case consultation.
During this time, we can discuss what happened and help you determine your options for moving forward.
When you work with White Law PLLC., our goal is to support you in the driver’s seat of your case, providing guidance and allowing you to make the final calls about how you proceed.
Our team understands the importance of trauma-informed representation in sexual abuse cases, meaning you can rest assured our team has the skills and understanding to approach your case with the care and respect it deserves. What happened was not your fault, and you deserve a chance to share your story.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
