DETROIT (MI)
OSV News [Huntington IN]
March 13, 2026
In a new pastoral message released March 11, Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger expressed “heartfelt sorrow for the evil of abuse and the profound suffering it has caused.”
He also outlined several new measures designed to strengthen safe environment protections and accompany victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The message, titled “Rebuilding Trust: A Pastoral Message on Abuse, Reform, and Hope,” was released ahead of his first anniversary as Detroit’s chief shepherd.
Sins of clergy sexual abuse
Archbishop Weisenburger acknowledged the pain caused by the sins of clergy sexual abuse, and said while the Church has made important strides, “we must commit ourselves to ongoing accountability, transparency, and the unwavering protection of those entrusted to our care — especially God’s beloved little ones.”
The message and new policies, he said, are part of recommitting the Church to the “central and enduring priority” of protecting children and vulnerable adults.
When he became Detroit’s archbishop, he said, “among the more serious obligations entrusted to me is addressing the wounds caused by clergy sexual abuse, along with strengthening the Church’s commitment to accountability and protection.”
‘A central and enduring priority’
“I remain firmly committed to ensuring that the protection of children and vulnerable adults is upheld as a central and enduring priority of my pastoral leadership,” the archbishop added.
He offered his “most sincere and heartfelt apology” to those who have been abused or harmed by the Church’s pastors in any way, and acknowledged that “words alone cannot heal the harm inflicted.”
“Taking seriously Jesus’ teaching that whatever we do to the least among us, we do to Him, I can only conclude that the crimes and misconduct you suffered were nothing short of an attack on Christ Himself,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “I pray that the wounds you have endured will be healed and that you will be comforted by the grace and love of Jesus.”
Renewing church’s commitment
In his message, Archbishop Weisenburger said the local Church must renew its commitment to healing, safeguarding and accountability, outlining several new measures to strengthen the protection of children and vulnerable adults, accompany victims of abuse, educate future clergy and more closely monitor clergy removed from ministry.
Since the adoption of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” in 2002 — and two revisions since by the bishops — the Archdiocese of Detroit has “worked diligently to bring criminals to justice” through strengthened cooperation with state and federal law enforcement, stronger canonical procedures and enhanced clergy disciplinary protocols, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Weisenburger also noted stronger protections and norms implemented by the Holy See in recent years, which include Pope Francis’ motu proprio “Vos Estis Lux Mundi.”
Episcopal vicar for clergy discipline
In April 2025, Archbishop Weisenburger appointed Father John Maksym, a Detroit archdiocesan priest, as episcopal vicar for clergy discipline. He is a licensed attorney and former appellate and trial court judge with criminal litigation experience, as well as a canon lawyer.
He leads a team of professionals dedicated to conducting “a comprehensive and unprecedented review” of all of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s files, processes and protocols related to the handling of sexual abuse allegations and promoting safe environments in the archdiocese’s parishes, schools and communities, the archbishop said.
Father Maksym’s team includes both clergy and lay professionals, and brings “expertise in law and criminal justice, enriched by their invaluable perspectives as parents and grandparents,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “I believe the inclusion of parents, alongside clergy, underscores the importance of a diverse, collaborative, and credible approach to effective safeguarding efforts.”
Reviewed ‘every known case’
Archbishop Weisenburger said that “for the first known time in the history of our archdiocese,” the team led by Father Maksym reviewed “every known case involving clergy misconduct — not only those involving allegations of sexual abuse — dating back to the early 1920’s.”
“Each case was carefully examined in order to clearly identify those that involved credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, ensuring that no allegation was overlooked and no victim deprived of justice or an opportunity for care,” the archbishop said.
The archdiocese’s review was facilitated, in part, by the return of personnel and other files held by the Michigan attorney general’s office, which since 2018 has been conducting an investigation into each of Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses related to the handling of sexual abuse cases.
Cooperating ‘fully’ with attorney general
The Archdiocese of Detroit continues to “cooperate fully” with the attorney general’s investigation, Archbishop Weisenburger said, while adding he “greatly appreciate(s)” the office for granting his request to return the files.
So far, the attorney general’s office has released the findings of its investigation related to five of Michigan’s dioceses: Marquette, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Grand Rapids. It is expected to release reports on the Diocese of Saginaw and the Archdiocese of Detroit once those investigations are completed.
“As we continue to cooperate fully with the Attorney General’s Task Force, it is my hope that our own careful review of these files will allow us to respond with transparency and justice when the Attorney General’s report is published,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
‘A matter of practice and policy’
“As a matter of practice and policy,” the archbishop added, the archdiocese immediately reports any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult by a member of the clergy to the attorney general’s office, and does not pursue its own investigation until cleared by the attorney general’s office to do so, “to ensure that we never interfere with the criminal justice process.”
Archbishop Weisenburger said the archdiocese has taken several steps to strengthen its own safe environment protocols. They are designed to provide even stronger protection as the archdiocese seeks to ensure “the safety of every child and vulnerable adult entrusted to our care,” the archbishop said.
Among the new policies is a new, archdiocesan-wide fingerprinting policy that will apply to all clergy, educators and employees, as well as any volunteer who works directly with children or vulnerable adults.
Fingerprinting is ‘gold standard’
“While background screening has long been a critical part of our safe environment effort, fingerprinting is widely recognized as the ‘gold standard’ and most reliable method in the security field,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
In addition to a “thorough prescreening measure,” fingerprinting serves as an ongoing safety check, the archbishop explained.
To date, approximately 225 diocesan priests have been fingerprinted, along with members of the archdiocese’s curia staff, with the initiative continuing in the months ahead.
The archdiocese is also strengthening its commitment to accompanying victims of abuse in their healing, the archbishop said.
Ensuring needs of victim-survivors are met
Archbishop Weisenburger said he has directed the archdiocese to expand its reserves dedicated to providing funding for the psychiatric and psychological care of victims, “to ensure that no one is denied access to needed support.”
The Church also offers pastoral care to those victimized to further accompany their healing journey. That care includes the support of a victim assistance coordinator dedicated to helping survivors navigate the road to recovery and healing. Every diocese in the United States has a victim assistance coordinator, a position created by the U.S. bishops’ 2002 charter.
Going forward, victim assistance will be provided through Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, the archbishop said, in order to better serve the spiritual and emotional well-being of victim-survivors.
Educating next generation of ministers
Archbishop Weisenburger also said it’s imperative that the next generation of ministers in the Church receives a deeper understanding of the abuse crisis, its history, and the tools needed to prevent it from happening again.
To complement safe environment training already required for all clergy, seminarians, employees and volunteers, seminarians studying at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Major Seminary will receive enhanced training and education on an annual basis, the archbishop said.
This training will include reviews of reports issued by the state’s Attorney General’s office, other law enforcement agencies, and any additional reports published by the archbishop himself or Church leaders.
It will also review changes to the Church’s canonical penalties related to abuse, he said, such as those recently promulgated by Pope Francis.
All future priests and deacons
“I want all future priests and deacons to have this at the forefront of their minds when they carry out their ministry,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
While the Archdiocese of Detroit acts swiftly to remove from ministry any priest or deacon with a credible allegation of abuse, the local Church’s responsibility does not end when restrictions are placed upon a clergy member, Archbishop Weisenburger said.
To ensure continued oversight, the archbishop said a supervisor will be appointed to monitor clerics removed from ministry, “and, as needed, to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement authorities.”
Archbishop Weisenburger thanked those who, through their courage and vigilance, have reported abuse and worked to bring about justice, transparency and reform.
Steadfast witness of clergy, religious
While the Church remains committed to accountability, transparency and safety, he said, it is also grateful for the steadfast witness of the majority of clergy and religious who serve faithfully and selflessly in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
“Finally, I wish to conclude by sharing this reflection: In my decades of service as a member of the clergy, having ministered in several dioceses across our country, I know this to be true: the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious serve faithfully and with integrity, offering dedicated service to God and the Church,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
“This statement is offered as a factual observation and is not intended as a defense or an attempt to diminish the seriousness of harm and suffering caused,” he added. “I wish to thank them for their faithful witness, generous service, and quiet perseverance amid the pain and betrayal brought about by the sins of others.”