Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo Clergy Abuse

Contact the Michigan Clergy Abuse Coalition for Help Today

For several years, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office has investigated instances of sexual abuse by clergy members within the Catholic Church. Several priests have already been charged with criminal acts related to sexual abuse, and the Attorney General’s office reports that more criminal charges will come. 

Criminal cases seek to hold a person accountable for violating criminal laws. They focus on punishing and deterring actions that harm society as a whole as well as individuals. Yet individuals injured by clergy sexual abuse often find a criminal case doesn’t fully compensate them for the mental and emotional pain they suffered一which they may have carried for decades.

Michigan residents abused by a member of the clergy may also file a civil lawsuit. These lawsuits seek compensation that financially compensates the individual survivor’s harms and losses directly. Talk with an attorney at the Michigan Clergy Abuse Coalition to find out the next steps. 

Michigan Attorney General Releases Report on Clergy Abuse in the Diocese of Kalamazoo

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released a comprehensive report detailing allegations of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The report acknowledges the victims’ experiences and outlines findings from a multi-year investigation by the Department of Attorney General.

Sources of Information
The report compiles data from victim interviews, tips submitted to the Attorney General’s clergy abuse tip line, police investigations, seized documents (both paper and electronic) from the Diocese, open-source media, and allegations disclosed by the Diocese itself. This extensive investigation included materials from a search warrant executed in October 2018, resulting in the seizure of 220 boxes of paper records and more than 3.5 million electronic files.

Key Findings

• The report identifies 19 priests accused of sexual misconduct within the Diocese of Kalamazoo since its establishment in 1971. Twelve of these priests were ordained or incardinated by the Diocese.
• Allegations include sexual abuse of minors and adults, grooming behavior, and misuse of authority. However, many cases cannot be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations, the death of the accused, or the unwillingness of victims to pursue criminal charges.
• The investigation resulted in criminal charges against two priests ministering in the Diocese of Kalamazoo:
  • Brian Stanley: Convicted of attempted false imprisonment for immobilizing a teenage boy in 2013. Sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years of probation.
  • Jacob Vellian: Charged with two counts of rape but likely passed away in India while awaiting extradition.

Statewide Efforts
To date, the Attorney General’s investigation has yielded:

• Over 1.5 million paper documents and 3.5 million electronic documents reviewed.
• 11 criminal cases against priests across Michigan, resulting in 9 convictions.
• Ongoing support for hundreds of survivors through a full-time victim advocate.

Empowering Victims
Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of breaking the silence around clergy abuse:

“This investigation aims to shatter that silence, empowering survivors to speak their truth. My department is committed to ensuring every case of sexual abuse and assault is thoroughly reviewed and investigated.”

Priests and clergy members mentioned in the Attorney General’s report include:

• Fr. Dennis A. Boylan
• Fr. Robert E. Consani
• Fr. Thomas Francis DeVita
• Fr. Richard A. Fritz
• Fr. Robert R. Gerl
• Fr. Jerome M. Heyman, O.S.A.
• Fr. Bernard L. (“Bud”) Horst, S.M.
• Fr. Thomas G. Lapine, C.S.C.
• Fr. Wieslaw Lipka
• Fr. Francis Marotti
• Fr. David C. Otto
• Fr. Gary William Pamment
• Fr. Carl Franklin Peltz
• Fr. Stanley T. Staniszewski
• Fr. Brian Lynn Stanley
• Msgr. Jacob Vellian
• Fr. Bogdan Werra
• Fr. Leroy Edward White

Compensation for Those Who Suffered Abuse from a Clergy Member

Criminal cases hold perpetrators accountable for crimes that harm society as a whole as well as individual survivors. In a civil lawsuit, the focus is entirely on the losses the individual survivor has suffered as a result of the abuse you endured.

A civil clergy sexual abuse lawsuit can compensate for harms and losses, such as:

• Medical bills for treatment of physical and mental injuries, including therapy or counseling; 
• Lost wages or loss of earnings capacity if the abuse or its effects prevented you from working and/or will in the future; 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and similar mental or emotional disorders, like anxiety and depression; 
• Loss of enjoyment of everyday life activities; and 
• Embarrassment, humiliation, or damage to your reputation in your community or church. 

Finally, speaking up about past abuse requires courage. When you speak up, you shine a light on terrible abuse that has remained hidden for too long. By speaking up, you have the power to stop this abuse from happening to others in the future, and giving other abuse survivors the courage to also speak up.  Each person who raises their voice lends their bravery to others, helping them to come forward as well.