Gaylord Catholic Diocese 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 Gaylord Catholic Diocese

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released a comprehensive report detailing allegations of abuse within the Diocese of Gaylord. The report highlights findings from victim testimonies, police investigations, and evidence seized from diocesan records. This effort is part of an ongoing investigation into clergy sexual abuse in Michigan.

Acknowledging Victims and Reporting Findings

The report is a culmination of information collected from the Attorney General’s tip line, interviews with victims, law enforcement investigations, media sources, and documents obtained from the Diocese of Gaylord. It acknowledges the experiences of abuse survivors and provides a detailed account of the Department of Attorney General’s findings.

A list of clergy accused of sexual misconduct since January 1, 1950, was compiled from evidence obtained during an October 2018 search of the Diocese of Gaylord. The list includes 26 priests and 2 deacons, 18 of whom were ordained or incardinated by the diocese.

Attorney General’s Commitment to Transparency

“Our promise to the victims was that every case of sexual abuse and assault would be thoroughly reviewed and that the results of the investigation would be transparent,” said Attorney General Nessel. “The courage of survivors to share their stories has shed light on a deeply troubling issue affecting countless lives.”

The Diocese of Gaylord cooperated with the investigation, providing records of abuse allegations. This collaboration was instrumental in ensuring the accuracy of the report, which was shared with the diocese prior to its public release.

Scope of Allegations and Challenges to Prosecution

The report outlines allegations of sexual abuse, grooming, and misuse of authority against minors and adults. However, many cases cannot be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations, the death of accused clergy, or other legal barriers. The findings are intended to bring public accountability and provide acknowledgment to survivors, many of whom have suffered in silence for decades.

Statewide Clergy Abuse Investigation

In October 2018, law enforcement conducted a statewide search of Michigan’s seven dioceses, seizing over 220 boxes of documents and 3.5 million digital records. To date, the Attorney General’s investigation has:

• Reviewed over 1.5 million paper documents and 3.5 million digital files.
• Supported hundreds of victims with the help of a trained victim advocate.
• Issued criminal charges in 11 cases across Michigan, securing convictions in 9 cases.

Criminal Prosecutions

The investigation has led to the prosecution of several priests, with charges ranging from first-degree criminal sexual conduct to gross indecency. While none of these cases involved clergy from the Diocese of Gaylord, the statewide effort underscores the breadth of abuse uncovered in Michigan.

The Diocese of Gaylord Investigation

For the Diocese of Gaylord, the investigation generated 10 tips, including 4 provided directly by the diocese. Investigators reviewed approximately 21 boxes of documents and 700,000 digital files related to the diocese. Although no criminal charges were filed in this diocese, the findings highlight systemic issues within the Catholic Church.

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

• Fr. Patrick John Barrett
• Fr. Raymond Charles Cotter
• Fr. Walter William Derylo
• Fr. James Kemp Gardiner
• Fr. Donald Robert Geyman
• Fr. Ronald Vincent Gronowski
• Fr. Craig Alan Haider
• Fr. Lionel August Harnish
• Fr. Wilbert Hegener, O.F.M.
• Fr. John J. Hennessy, S.J.
• Fr. James A. Holtz
• Fr. Thomas Alan Kaiser
• Fr. Francis Karl
• Fr. Daniel Greene Madigan
• Fr. Benedict J. Marciulionis
• Fr. James Clark McLaughlin II
• Fr. Bryan W. Medlin
• Fr. Eyob Jemaneh Merin
• Fr. Sylvestre Lincoln Obwaka
• Fr. Leo Olschausken, O. Praem
• Fr. Raymond John Pilarski
• Fr. Terrence Andrew Raymond
• Fr. Laurus Raymond Rhode, O.F.M.
• Fr. Gerald Matthew Shirilla
• Fr. Robert Gordon Smith
• Deacon Richard R. Trapp
• Fr. John Bernard Tupper
• Deacon Edward Vondra

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.