Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced the release of a report by the Department of Attorney General detailing allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct within the Diocese of Lansing. The report, which compiles information from various sources including victim interviews and diocesan documents, aims to acknowledge victims' reports and present the Department's findings.

The list includes allegations against 56 individuals affiliated with the Diocese since 1950. This includes 48 priests, three religious brothers, an apparent former religious brother, and four deacons. According to Nessel, "These reports are important... because victims... are often silenced – in some cases for decades or a lifetime."

The Diocese of Lansing cooperated by providing abuse reports to the Department. However, many allegations cannot lead to criminal prosecution due to factors like statute limitations or deceased accused individuals.

This is part of a broader investigation into Michigan's dioceses that began in October 2018 when search warrants were executed at seven dioceses across the state. To date, more than 1.5 million paper documents and over 3.5 million digital documents have been reviewed.

Nessel commended her team for their dedication: "This report represents countless hours of work... I want to commend the Michigan State Police and my dedicated staff on their unwavering commitment."

Since the investigation began, charges have been issued in 11 cases statewide with convictions secured in nine cases involving clergy abuse. Notable prosecutions include Vincent DeLorenzo, Timothy Crowley, and Joseph Comperchio from the Diocese of Lansing.

The Attorney General’s office continues to receive tips through its clergy abuse tip line which has generated numerous investigations and police reports related to these allegations.

For further details or assistance regarding clergy abuse claims or resources for victims, contact information is available on the department's website.