MICHIGAN
Michigan.Live.com
November 15, 2018
By Justin P. Hicks
The Catholic Diocese of Gaylord has created an online list of priests and deacons who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse of a minor dating back to 1971.
As of Thursday, Nov. 15, the list featured 10 clergy. Eight of the priests are deceased. The two living priests — Ronald Gronowski and James Holtz — have been “permanently removed from public ministry.”
The release of the list comes amid a state investigation of sexual abuse by priests being led by the Michigan attorney general’s office. In August 2018, the state agency began investigating the handling of allegations dating back to 1950.
The diocese said it has previously released information about the allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving priests or deacons, but chose to publish and maintain the list because it “may be helpful to the healing process for victim-survivors,” and to continue efforts for increased transparency.
A “credible and substantiated allegation,” as used by the diocese, is an accusation that, after an investigation and review of available information, appears more likely true than not and has been accepted as credible by the bishop, according to the diocese.
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