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Michigan AG report exposes decades of abuse allegations in Lansing Diocese 

By Kyle Kaminski

December 17, 2024

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office is exposing 56 clergy accused of sexual abuse in Lansing since 1950—with detailed accounts of grooming, assault, and misuse of authority that peaked in the 70s and 80s.

LANSING—An investigative report released this week by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office is shedding light on decades of alleged sexual abuse and misconduct within the Catholic Diocese of Lansing—including three cases that resulted in criminal convictions.

State officials said they’re releasing the 345-page report this week to “publicly acknowledge” the alleged sexual misconduct, as well as the systemic failures that enabled the abuses to persist.

“These reports are important, not just because we made a promise to the survivors years ago, but because victims, especially in cases like these where the assaults were perpetrated by entrusted members of a community, are often silenced—in some cases for decades or a lifetime,” Nessel said in a statement announcing the new investigative report on Monday. “By publishing these reports, we are sharing their stories and validating their experiences.”

Here’s the deal:

The new report identifies 56 individuals tied to allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct within the Diocese of Lansing since January 1, 1950—including 48 priests, three religious brothers, a former religious brother, and four deacons. Many of the cases date back decades and involve grooming, misuse of authority, and the outright sexual assault of both minors and adults.

The findings stem from a 2018 investigation in which Michigan State Police and the Attorney General’s team executed search warrants at all seven of Michigan Catholic dioceses.

That effort yielded 220 boxes of paper documents and 3.5 million electronic files, which ultimately helped prosecutors expose a decades-long failure to report or act on abuse allegations, as well as file criminal charges in 11 cases—with nine convictions to date. 

Three of those convictions were tied to allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. 

Most of the other priests and clergy named in the report have either died or are shielded from prosecution by the state’s statute of limitations. Nessel’s office also declined to press charges in cases where the alleged victim didn’t cooperate or where the alleged conduct wasn’t illegal.

Still, state officials said the report will serve as a formal acknowledgment of the survivors’ experiences—as well as an accountability measure and resource for victims still seeking justice. 

“Prosecutions are just one accountability metric,” Nessel said. “Ensuring each victim is heard, regardless of how long ago the sexual abuse and misconduct may have been, is important in acknowledging their pain and fostering a culture that prioritizes these victims over their silence.” 

What’s in the report?

The 345-page report is a compilation of excerpts obtained from the state’s tip line, victim interviews, police investigations, open-source media, documents that were seized from the Diocese of Lansing, as well as reports of allegations disclosed directly by the Diocese.

All told, it features 152 separate accusations of sexual misconduct over a 74-year period. 

Among the most egregious cases prosecuted in the Diocese of Lansing:

  • People v. Vincent DeLorenzo: A priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, DeLorenzo pled guilty to sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy after officiating a service for his family in 1987. DeLorenzo was sentenced in June 2023 and has since died in prison.
  • People v. Timothy Crowley: A priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor, Crowley pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct last year and was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation for sexually abusing a minor about three decades ago.
  • People v. Joseph Comperchio: A Catholic school organist and teacher, Comperchio was sentenced to up to 30 years for sexually abusing multiple children in the 1970s. Comperchio died from natural causes in 2022 while he was serving his prison sentence. 

According to a review by the Diocese, over two-thirds of the alleged abusers listed in the report are now dead—with no accused clergy still holding an active assignment in the Catholic Church.

Michigan AG report exposes decades of abuse allegations in Lansing Diocese 

In a statement responding to the findings, officials at the Diocese also said that the alleged instances of sexual misconduct involving Lansing clergy appear to have peaked in the 70s and 80s—with over half of the alleged incidents said to have occurred during those two decades.

“My heart breaks for all those who have suffered due to the evil of clerical sexual abuse,” Bishop Earl Boyea said in a statement. “To all those injured by such criminal and immoral actions I say clearly and without hesitation: these terrible things should never have happened to you; I am so deeply sorry that they ever did; please be assured of my prayers, penance, love and support.”

What’s next?

The Diocese of Lansing report is the fourth of seven investigations into Michigan’s Catholic dioceses and archdiocese. Previous reports released by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office have revealed similar patterns of sexual abuse in Marquette, Gaylord, and Kalamazoo

The investigation is still ongoing, with more detailed findings for the remaining dioceses expected to be released over the coming months. Survivors (or anyone else) with information to share can call the AG’s clergy abuse hotline at 844-324-3374 or send an email here.

READ MORE: AG releases report on abuse allegations at Catholic Diocese in Gaylord

For the latest Michigan news, follow The ‘Gander on Twitter.

Follow Political Correspondent Kyle Kaminski here.

Author

  • Kyle Kaminski

    Kyle Kaminski is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than a decade of experience covering news across Michigan. Prior to joining The ‘Gander, Kyle worked as the managing editor at City Pulse in Lansing and as a reporter for the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

CATEGORIES: CRIME AND SAFETY

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