Survivors of Michigan clergy sexual abuse carry a burden that impacts nearly every aspect of their lives. The problem is so common, the Michigan Attorney General has launched an open investigation in order to determine the full extent of decades of institutional sexual abuse by clergy members. While the investigation is ongoing, the preliminary results show that evangelical and Catholic churches throughout Michigan have harbored sexual predators for decades.
Fortunately, survivors of clergy sexual abuse can seek damages for the trauma they have suffered by bringing legal action against the Church. By pursuing at fault damages in civil court, victims of sexual abuse can help hold these institutions accountable for the vile acts committed by their clergy members.
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Michigan have the opportunity to secure fair compensation, allowing them to seek proper treatment for their trauma. This allows anyone living with the burden of sexual abuse to improve the quality of their lives.
Seek justice with a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawsuit
The trauma informed team of clergy sexual abuse attorneys at Estey & Bomberger, LLC, believe in supporting our clients in every way possible. Our sexual abuse lawyers provide first-class legal counsel and have earned a national reputation thanks to our perfect record holding religious institutions accountable for the sexual misconduct of their clergy members. If you believe you or a loved one have a Michigan clergy sexual abuse case, we can help.
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the state of Michigan can help protect others from suffering in the future by taking legal action. It does not matter how long ago a sexual assault occurred, or your age when the abuse occured, you or your loved one may be able to make a clergy sexual abuse claim in civil court.
Damages caused by clergy sexual abuse that can be pursued in civil litigation against the Church may be both economic and non-economic in nature. These are referred to as punitive damages, and can include:
- Current and future medical expenses such as therapy and counseling
- Emotional wounds caused by the pain and suffering of coping with the trauma of sexual abuse
- Lost wages
- Loss of a normal life
- Mental anguish
Our attorneys can file a Michigan clergy sexual abuse claim
Our law firm offers completely free and 100% confidential consultations where you can speak with an attorney regarding the details of your case. We understand the sensitive nature of clergy sexual abuse claims. Your privacy is paramount to us. If you choose to remain anonymous, our sexual abuse injury lawyers can insure that your identity remain private while assisting you with prompt legal action.
During your consultation, one of our attorneys will provide a thorough evaluation of your case and offer legal advice regarding how to proceed with your claim. You will be kindly encouraged to ask any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision regarding your case.
So that everyone can afford our services, we never charge a fee unless we win. Our attorneys also have a perfect record when advocating for clients in sexual abuse cases. Every member of our team is dedicated to helping you achieve the justice and financial compensation so that you can retain the resources necessary to move forward with your life.
Contact our office today to learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a no obligation, free, and confidential consultation.
What are clergy abuse settlements?
A clergy abuse settlement is financial compensation awarded in civil court to survivors of sexual assault perpetrated by a clergy member. Whether the abuser was a catholic priest, evangelical pastor, church leader, or anyone else working at a religious institution, Michigan laws allow sexual abuse survivors to seek justice through punitive damages.
Can you file a lawsuit against a dead priest?
Civil lawsuits allow abuse victims to hold sexual predators, and the institutions that harbored them, financially accountable for their criminal sexual conduct. In cases such as those of the Michigan Catholic Dioceses, many of the accused priests have passed away, and so holding them accountable in court is simply no longer an option. If you are concerned about statutes of limitations, we still would like to hear from you. We believe that such statutes need to be reexamined in order to allow victims of clergy abuse to achieve justice.
Our team of sexual abuse lawyers can investigate the accused priest as well as the church to discover any evidence that church leaders knew about the abuse. It is well reported that churches in the past covered claims of sexual abuse on behalf of their clergy members it up in order to avoid criminal charges and civil damages. It is time to hold these priests and churches accountable for the damages they have caused to their many victims, including the innocent children and adults who suffered at the hands of these sexual predators.
How to report abuse from religious institutions
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse have a few options. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Otherwise, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers a Centralized Intact (CI) where reports of suspected child sexual abuse can be reported. You can report child sex abuse over the phone at (855) 444-3911, or you can report abuse online here.
Another option is the tip line launched by the Michigan Department of Attorney General in order to collect first-hand information on sexual abuse within the church from local communities. The tip line remains live and can be reached at (844) 324-3374. Anyone with information regarding sexual abuse in the church is encouraged to call. You can also fill out a form or send information by email here.
Decades of alleged Michigan Catholic diocese clergy sex abuse
It is no secret that the Catholic Church has a long history of covering up instances of sexual abuse by clergy members. In order to shed light on this dark history, on September 21, 2018, the Michigan Department of Attorney General launched an investigation on the seven Dioceses of Michigan’s Catholic Church. From the Archdiocese located in Detroit to the Dioceses in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Gaylord, Marquireet, and Saginaw, the State’s Attorney General partnered with the Michigan State Police in their investigation into clergy sexual abuse thought the state.
The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the sexual abuse of church members, including those who are minors and adults, was being reported as required by law. The inquiry focused on uncovering any potential criminal charges against those responsible for any criminal sexual conduct as well as anyone complicit in covering up instances of sexual abuse.
Diocese of Marquette sexual abuse report
On October 27, 2022, the Michigan attorney general, Dana Nessel, released the first report which details the investigation into the Marquette Dioceses of Michigan’s Catholic Church. The report included information obtained from the tip line, police investigations, victim interviews, open-source media, electronic documents discovered on diocesan computers, paper documents confiscated from the Diocese, and reports of allegations disclosed by the Dioceses. Allegations of sexual misconduct include grooming, misuse of authority, and sexual abuse against adults and minors.
How many priests were accused of abuse?
44 catholic priests who ministered in Marquette are named in the report and accused of engaging in grooming behavior or sexual abuse since the 1940s. 32 of the catholic priests named are deceased. Six of the named priests are accused of sexual misconduct with adults 18 and over. Two of the remaining 12 living priest have faced criminal charges, with one convicted and the other whose trial is still pending. Neither are in active ministry.
Unfortunately, there is no accurate account of how many priests have been accused of sexual abuse. While the investigation into Michigan’s clergy abuse is ongoing, hundreds of priests currently stand accused of sexual misconduct in the Catholic Church alone. Take into account evangelist parishes, and the number could very well be in the thousands.
The sad truth is we may never know how many priests sexually abused those who trusted them in their position of authority. This is why it is so important for survivors to seek justice for the sexual abuse they have suffered.
How can a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer help you?
If you or a loved one are a survivor of sexual abuse by a clergy member in the state of Michigan, you can pursue justice by filing a civil lawsuit with the help of our sexual abuse lawyers. By seeking financial compensation, you can hold religious institutions accountable for the actions of clergy members. Our law firm has a perfect record fighting for clients with sexual abuse claims, and will work tirelessly to achieve a favorable result in your case.
We also provide clients with a wealth of resources to help deal with the impact of sexual abuse. Our team includes certified sexual assault advocates who provide support whenever needed. We have your back and our goal is to help our clients heal so that they can move forward with their lives.
We never charge a single penny unless we win your case, and we have a 100% success rate standing up for the rights of sexual abuse survivors. For more information, or to schedule a confidential and free consultation with no obligations, contact us today.
What are examples of sexual abuse?
Clergy sexual abuse can take many forms. Reports of sexual assault by clergy members include but are not limited to:
- Attempted rape
- Rape – including serial and gang rape
- Sodomy
- Indecent actions such as humiliation, stimulation, and sexual penetration.
- Extortion for sexual acts
- Sexual harassment
- Recording sexual activity without the victim’s consent, including but not limited to photographs, recordings, or video of any degrading or humiliating sexual activity
- Sharing pornographic materials with minors
- Sexual remarks or propositions
If you or a loved one have suffered any of these types of abuse or assault by a clergy member, you may qualify for financial compensation.
Longterm damages caused by sexual abuse
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse may suffer from mental health and social injuries such as:
- General mistrust of others
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Intimacy issues including lack of libido
- Trouble with interpersonal contact
We are more than just another law firm, our premier legal team also provides clients with a range of resources to help cope with the life-changing consequences of surviving sexual abuse. Our goal is to help our clients heal so that they can get back to living a full and complete life.
Get started today by contacting our clergy abuse attorneys
If you or a family member has been a victim of sexual abuse, from any church listed below, please contact us as soon as possible.
Catholic Churches in Michigan
St. Joseph Parish St. Luke the Evangelist St. Mary Catholic Community St. Joseph St. Mary Burnside Parish St. Gregory Parish St. Edith Parish St. Mary Cathedral Resurrection St. Mary Cathedral Parish St. John Bosco Church St. Margaret Chapel St. Jude Thaddeus Parish St. Jude Thaddeus Parish/ St. John the Evangelist Church St. Mary Parish St. Hedwig Parish St. Hedwig Rectory St. Agnes Parish St. Hyacinth Parish St. John The Baptist Parish St. Joseph Church St. Irenaeus St. Joseph Church – Wright St. Joseph Catholic Church St. Anthony Parish St. John the Baptist Catholic Church St. Gregory-Our Lady of Fatima St. Mary Catholic Church St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church St. Jude Parish St. Catherine Parish St. Kieran Church St. Ignatius St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church St. Francis of Assisi Parish St. Ignatius Parish St. Francis Xavier St. Mary of The Assumption Parish St. John the Evangelist Church St. Margaret of Scotland Parish St. Joseph Bohemian Settlement St. Mary Magdalen Parish St. Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church St. John the Evangelist Parish St. Mary of the Angels Oratory (Big Long Lake) St. Francis Xavier Parish St. Maria Goretti Parish St. Francis of Assisi St. Mary of the Hills St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception St. Luke University Parish St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish St. Mark the Evangelist Parish St. Joseph Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church St. Jean Baptiste St. Hugo of The Hills Parish St. Mark Parish St. John Cantius Parish St. Helen Catholic Church St. Mary Church St. Leo Parish St. Mary Church & Our Lady of the Woods Shrine St. Mary on the Lake Parish St. Ann Parish St. Jude St. Jude Thaddeus Church St. Mary Our Lady of the Snows St. Margaret Mary Parish St. Martin de Porres St. Mary St. Mary & St Joseph Parish St. Isidore Parish St. Louis Parish St. Leonhard St. Mary of The Lake Parish St. Joseph Rudyard St. Joseph Shrine Parish St. Josaphat Parish St. Mary of Mount Carmel Shrine St. Lawrence Parish St. Mary Roman Catholic Church St. Gerald Parish St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish St. Hubert Parish St. George Parish St. Joseph The Worker Parish St. John Paul II St. Martha Parish St. Justin Parish St. Joseph the Worker St. John Paul II Parish St. Gerard Parish St. Louise Parish St. John Vianney Church St. Genevieve – St. Maurice Parish St. Michael Parish St. James Parish St. John Vianney Parish St. Mary Student Parish St. Michael Parish (Ukrainian) St. Mary of the Woods St. George Chaldean Catholic Church St. Mary – St Charles Parish St. Lucy Parish St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation St. Gertrude Parish St. Peter Catholic Church St. John the Baptist St. Raphael Parish St. Mary’s St. Mary’s Church St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish St. Mary Queen of Creation St. Mary of The Immaculate Conception Church St. Mary Queen of Peace St. Stephen Parish St. Mary’s of Redford Parish St. Mark Church St. Pius X Parish St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church St. Pius X Parish, Flint St. Michael the Archangel St. Thomas Syriac Catholic Church St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church St. Peter Cathedral St. Mary-St. Paul Parish St. Rene Goupil Parish St. Sylvester Parish St. Rita Parish St. Vincent St. Rita – St. Joseph St. Matthias Catholic Church St. Thomas The Apostle Parish St. Robert Bellarmine St. Patrick Parish St. Matthew Parish St. Michael’s St. Matthew Catholic Church St. Peter Parish St. Mary’s Visitation Parish St. Nicholas Catholic Church St. Nicholas Parish St. Mary’s Youth Ministry St. Thomas the Apostle Church St. Michael’s Church St. Veronica Parish St. John Chrysostom Church St. Timothy Catholic Church St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church St. Joan of Arc Parish St. Maurice Parish-Closed St. Paul St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church St. Mary’s Parish St. Regis Church St. Thecla Parish St. Suzanne Parish / Our Lady Gate of Heaven St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, St Roch Conference St. Robert Bellarmine Parish St. Moses The Black St. Patrick St. Vincent Pallotti Parish with the churches of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, Wyandotte St. Rose Of Lima Parish St. Theresa Parish St. Mel Catholic Church St. Therese St. Michael Church St. Phillip Neri Parish St. Scholastica Parish St. Sebastian St. Thomas Aquinas Parish St. Simon Parish St. Sebastian Parish St. Sharbel Maronite Church St. Philomena Parish St. Paul the Apostle Church St. Stanislaus Kostka-Closed St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church St. Paul The Apostle Parish St. Stanislaus Parish St. Perpetuas Parish Cathedral of The Most Blessed Sacrament Oceana County Cluster Boyne Valley Catholic Community Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish Mar Addai Chaldean Church Old St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Our Lady of Redemption Parish Old St. Patrick Parish Church of the Resurrection Corpus Christi Catholic Community All Saints Parish Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Holy Cross Hungarian R.C. Parish All Saints Catholic Church Our Lady of Refuge Parish Our Family of Catholic Parishes at the Rising of the Sun Church of the Holy Spirit All Saints Church Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Holy Maternity of Mary Church Holy Redeemer Parish Holy Cross Jesus The Good Shepherd Parish American Martyrs Parish Our Lady of Hope Parish Latvian Apostolate Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Our Lady of Fatima Church Light of Christ Parish Holy Childhood of Jesus Parish Immaculate Conception Church Our Lady of Hope Holy Name of Jesus Parish Cristo Rey Parish Divine Mercy Parish Our Lady of Loretto Parish Divine Providence Church of the Holy Family Immaculate Conception Parish Basilica of St Adalbert/St. James Church Our Lady of Albanians Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ukrainian Catholic Church Holy Family Catholic Church Our Lady of Lake Huron Parish Blessed Sacrament Holy Trinity Parish Holy Spirit Parish Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission Monastery of St. Therese Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Chapel of Assumption of St. Mary Divine Mercy Holy Rosary Parish Christ the King Parish Good Shepherd Catholic Church North Macomb Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Detroit Mother of Divine Mercy (St. Josaphat Church) Mother of Divine Mercy (Sweetest Heart of Mary Church) Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Gesu Catholic Church Blessed Sacrament Parish Most Holy Trinity Parish Our Lady of The Assumption Parish Blessed John XXIII Community Holy Name of Mary Most Holy Trinity Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption Christ the Good Shepherd Holy Cross Church Guardian Angels Church Our Lady of the Lake Parish Community Our Lady of the Lakes Holy Family Parish Most Holy Redeemer Nativity of the Lord Parish – St. Mary Church Our Lady of The Scapular Parish Holy Family Parish/St. John Church Christ The Redeemer Catholic Church Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish Holy Family Youth Ministry Our Lady of Peace Parish Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church of St Bernard Church of St. Sabina Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Ave Maria Parish Our Lady of Grace Parish Ave Maria University Chapel Guardian Angels Parish Our Lady of La Salette Parish Our Lady of the Snows Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Parish Holy Family Church Our Lady of The Rosary Parish St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church St. Albert The Great Parish SS John & Bernard Parish St. Aloysius Parish Resurrection Parish St. Ann’s Church Sacred Heart – Development SS Cyril & Methodius Parish Sacred Heart Parish SS Charles and Helena Parish Sacred Heart St. Edward Parish SS Francis and Clare Parish St. Aidan’s Parish St. Bernard Parish SS Peter & Paul Church St. Ambrose Parish St. Anne Parish Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish St. Charles Borromeo Parish Our Lady of Victory Church Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish-Closed Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish Our Lady Queen of Angels Sacred Heart Church St. Cecilia Parish Ryans Web St. Augustine Cathedral St. Clare of Montefalco St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church Shrine of St. Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe St. Augustine Parish St. Andrew Parish St. Andrew Catholic Church St. Anthony & St. Joseph St. Barbara Parish St. Clara St. Charles Church St. Andrew Dung-Lac Parish St. Alphonsus ~ St. Clement Parish SS Peter and Paul Church
By holding sexual predators accountable for their actions, you can help protect others in the future from suffering at the hands of these vile criminals. If you or a loved one have suffered sexual abuse from a clergy member, we believe you and will fight for you at every step of the way. Our team can provide support outside of the courtroom thanks to our in-house certified sexual assault advocates.
Our injury lawyers have a perfect record holding sexual predators accountable for their actions, and will do everything we can so you can achieve justice for the abuse you have suffered. So that you don’t have to worry about how to pay for our services, we work on a contingency basis. That means you don’t pay unless we win your case with a judgement, settlement, or verdict.
Learn more about how our dedicated team of sexual abuse advocates can help you achieve the justice you deserve. Contact our Michigan clergy abuse lawyers today to schedule a fee and confidential consultation.