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Court records reveal years of alleged sex abuse by priests across Michigan

By Malachi Barrett
M Live
May 24, 2019

https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2019/05/court-records-document-years-of-sex-abuse-across-michigan-by-priests.html

David Clohessy listens as Jack Ruhl speaks during a SNAP press conference outside of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday, March 14, 2019. SNAP stands for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

[with video]

Court documents shared by the Michigan Attorney General’s office reveal shocking details of sexual misconduct allegedly committed by priests for years across the state before their arrest this week.

Five men who were priests in Michigan have been charged with 21 counts of criminal sexual conduct, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday. Nessel said the priests are suspected of abusing five individuals, four who were underage at the time of the sexual assault and one adult who was taken advantage of during a confession.

Nessel shared affidavits and charging documents with reporters after a Friday press conference. The arrests are “the tip of the iceberg,” Nessel said, more will be found as state investigators review hundreds of tips and hundreds of thousands of documents uncovered from a probe into Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses.

“There were many other cases we discovered that were either outside the statue of limitations so we could not charge or the priest who committed the abuse were not deceased,” Nessel said. “In other cases, we would have liked to gone forward but unfortunately the victims were just not ready to do that.”

In some cases, Nessel said, victims were groomed from a young age to be more open to sexual activity with priests years later when they were of legal age.

An investigation into alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests dating back to 1950 was opened by former Attorney General Bill Schuette last year.

Members of the clergy abuse investigative team seized documents in simultaneous raids on Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses in 2018, which helped corroborate first-hand accounts of abuse, Nessel said.

Those with information about sexual abuse in Michigan churches should call the Attorney General’s tip line at (844) 324-3374 or fill out an online form at mi.gov/clergyabuse.

Michigan’s dioceses have cooperated with the investigation to varying degrees, Nessel said. Some church officials were complicit in covering up the abuse, paying off victims, coercing families to sign non-disclosure agreements and quietly moving priests to other parishes, she said.

“I’ve seen some things that are incredibly disturbing,” Nessel said.

Deputy Solicitor General Ann Sherman said the investigation has revealed a “serious misunderstanding of sexual assault” among church officials. Sherman said documents show a priest who was discussing another priest’s abuse of a child said the victim should admit that he teased the predator and therefore gave permission for the abuse to occur.

“He then gave the following analogy: If someone drops and apple and the apple gets bruised, there are two sins,” Sherman said. “The first one belonging to the person who dropped the apple and the second to the apple for getting bruised. This attitude is horrific.”

Nessel did not indicate whether charges will soon be brought against the dioceses, saying the focus remains on “taking dangerous predators off the street.”

“I’m not taking anything off the table in terms of potential charges against anyone who we believe is criminally liable for these offenses,” Nessel said.

Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagaman-Clark said churches are being informed when credible allegations of abuse come to light. Documents provided to MLive.com revealed graphic details of alleged abuse across Michigan.

Timothy Crowley - Lansing Diocese

Timothy Michael Crowley, 69, was charged in Washtenaw County with four felony counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and four felony counts of second degree CSC. Crowley, who was a priest at St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor and St. Mary Parish in Jackson, was arrested Thursday in Tempe, Arizona.

Court records show Crowley allegedly abused an an altar boy at St. Mary Parish starting at the age of 10. Crowley is accused of forcing the boy to perform oral sex on him.

An affidavit states Crowley provided his victim with cigarettes and alcohol, and coerced him to watch pornography depicting homosexual sex. Crowly allegedly slept in the same bed as the boy and threatened to “kill him” if the boy told anyone about the abuse.

In August 1993, the Diocese of Lansing paid the victim $200,000 in exchange for releasing all claims against Crowley and the church. The victim signed a no-disclosure agreement.

Crowley left Michigan in 1995.

Neil Kalina - Archdiocese of Detroit

Neil Kalina, 63, was charged in Macomb County with four felony counts of second degree CSC. Kalina, who was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township, was arrested Thursday in Littlerock, California.

Court documents show Kalina abused a boy between the ages of 12 and 14 while a pastor at St. Kieran Chuch. Kalina allegedly gave the boy alcohol, marijuana and cocaine on several occasions and slept with the boy.

On several occasions, Kalina allegedly put his hands down the boy’s pants and fondled his genitals. Court documents describe other incidents when the boy woke up to find Kalina allegedly groping his genitals.

Kalina left Michigan for California in 1985. He operates a faith-based service program for at-risk young men, according to court records.

Vincent DeLorenzo - Lansing Diocese

Vincent DeLorenzo, 80, was charged in Genesee County with three felony counts of first degree CSC and three felony counts of second degree CSC. DeLorenzo, who was a priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, was arrested Thursday in Marion County, Florida.

As a member of the Lansing Diocese, DeLorenzo allegedly abused a five-year-old boy from 1995 to 2000. Two years after the alleged abuse ended, DeLorenzo admitted to sexual abusing a minor in the 1980s. The church allowed him to remain a minister.

Hagaman-Clark said the allegations were investigated by local law enforcement at the time, but charges were not sought. She said new information uncovered in the Attorney General’s office has strengthened a case against DeLorenzo.

DeLorenzo moved to Florida in 2008.

Patrick Casey - Archdiocese of Detroit

Patrick Casey, 55, was charged in Wayne County with one felony count of third degree CSC, Casey, who was a priest at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland and St. Thomas a’ Becket in Canton, was arrested Thursday in Oak Park.

Casey was a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit when the alleged abuse occurred. Court documents show he allegedly performed oral sex on a man during his confession.

The unnamed victim was 24 years old at the time of the alleged abuse. In 2012, he sought guidance from Casey to deal with suicidal feelings associated with his identify as a gay Catholic.

Court documents show the man was in “great emotional turmoil” over his sexuality and requested to talk with Casey at the Westland church. As he spoke about his struggles with suicide and fear of dying in sin, Casey allegedly steered the conversation toward sex.

Casey allegedly told the man he would not ascend to heaven if he pursued homosexual relationships. During the confession, Casey allegedly told the man to stand up, at which point court records show Casey began performing oral sex on him.

The two men engaged in “various other sexual acts,” according to court documents.

Catholic Church officials were given details of the incident several years later and began an investigation. Casey allegedly admitted to the abuse and officials in the Archdiocese of Detroit concluded that he should be dismissed from his clerical duties.

In 2018, the Archdiocese found Casey “took advantage” of a vulnerable person, explaining that a confessor “cannot become a wolf who pulls sheep down and scatters them.”

Jacob Vellian - Kalamazoo Diocese

Jacob Vellian, 84, was charged with two counts of rape. Vellian was a priest at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Benton Harbor, and now lives in Kerala, India.

As a member of the Kalamazoo Diocese, Vellian allegedly abused a 15-year-old girl who volunteered as an administrative assistant to a St. John priest. After a month of her work, Vellian allegedly began to provide her with gifts and rub her neck and shoulders.

Court documents detail how the conduct escalated over time. On one occasions, Vellian allegedly touched the girl’s breasts under her clothing and explained he was trying to “fill her soul with the Holy Spirit.”

Vellian allegedly fondled the girl’s genitalia on multiple occasions and penetrated her before her 16th birthday.

In 2002, the victim reported Vellian’s alleged abuse to the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Court records show the diocese conducted an internal review and found her report to be credible in 2010.

Now a woman, the victim continues to suffer “severe mental anguish,” according to an affidavit.

Vellian left the parish in 1974 and has not returned to Michigan since. He now lives in India and serves as a priest in the Archeparchy of Kottayam.

Vellian could be a tricky case, but Nessel expressed optimism that he will be successfully extradited.

Nessel thanked her team of 44 attorneys, special agents and Michigan State Police troopers who have on the investigation.

A report on the entire investigation into statewide clergy abuse will be released at the end of the process. Nessel estimated it will take two years to review all of the information coming into her office.

Contact: mbarret1@mlive.com




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