FLINT (MI)
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests [Chicago IL]
April 26, 2023
By Zach Hiner
Vincent DeLorenzo, 84, formerly of Flint, was one of the initial five priests accused by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2019 as part of an ongoing investigation into clerical sexual abuse.
According to a statement from the authorities, DeLorenzo’s guilty plea is related to allegations that he sexually molested a 5-year-old kid after officiating the boy’s relative’s burial in 1987.
When a defendant departs the state for any reason, the statute of limitations in Michigan is suspended. DeLorenzo was detained in Florida’s Marion County in 2019. SNAP believes DeLorenzo had intimate knowledge about a fellow priest accused of abuse in 2007. While we applaud the heroic efforts of AG Nessel in investigating and securing convictions of abusive clergy, it comes as no surprise that DeLorenzo was afforded a long career by church officials.
The rest of DeLorenzo’s charges will be dropped in exchange for this guilty plea, the announcement states. It is always disheartening when predators avoid further justice through legal loopholes. We truly hope that the sentencing judge sends a very strong message in this case and points out that regardless of age, justice will prevail. Sentencing has been scheduled for June 13, 2023.
We beg everyone who witnessed, suspected, or was a victim of child sex crimes and cover-ups in Catholic churches, schools, or other institutions to seek help by calling therapists, bring wrongdoers to justice by calling law enforcement, and find comfort by calling support organizations like SNAP. By doing this, the truth will be revealed, children will be safer, people will recover, criminals will be brought to justice, and cover-ups will be discouraged.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (mmcdonnell@snapnetwork.org 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President, (814-341-8386 sdougherty@snapnetwork.org)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)