Fr. Clement J. LePine

In 2005, LePine was accused of abusing at least two girls, as young as age 5, and a boy during the 1960s and 1970s. The diocese found the allegations to be credible and agreed to remove LePine’s name from the parish hall at St. Joseph Parish in Ishpeming, where he had been assigned from 1957 to 1986. LePine passed away in 2000. It was reported that LePine would entice children from his front porch with promises of candy, games, and toys. One victim disclosed that she had reported her abuse to Catholic Social Services in either 1981 or 1982. However, during a subsequent meeting, she expressed feeling demeaned and disbelieved by a priest who claimed to be a counselor for priests. These details were included in the MI A.G.’s report on October 22nd.