SAGINAW (MI)
Detroit News [Detroit MI]
June 25, 2026
By Max Reinhart
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released the sixth of seven extensive reports detailing allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in the state’s Catholic diocese.
The 258-page report focuses on allegations involving the Diocese of Saginaw since 1950. It identifies 37 priests and one deacon accused of misconduct and includes detailed description of the allegations against them, Nessel said.
“This report is only possible because of the bravery of so many, from young children to the elderly, coming forward over decades to share their suffering,” Nessel said in a press release. “As always, I commend their strength and thank them for it. Accountability comes in many forms, and by publishing these accounts we hope to foster acknowledgment for these survivors and safer communities today.”
In a video posted on Facebook, Bishop Robert D. Gruss of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw acknowledged the allegations “with deep shame and sorrow.”
“We continue to pray for all who have been victims of abuse and remain steadfast in our commitment to accountability, transparency, and the protection of children, young adults, and vulnerable adults,” the Diocese posted.
Criminal prosecution is not likely, Nessel said, due to statutes of limitations, the deaths of some of the accused individuals or because the alleged victims did not wish to pursue charges.
The report contains accounts of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct, including grooming and misuse of authority against both minors and adults, the attorney general said.
The report includes victim accounts indicating that the priests would use their influence as faith leaders to sexually assault children and teens, some as young as 6 years old.
“You told me not to tell anyone because they would not believe me. You said that no one would believe me because you had status in the community and you were nice to everybody,” one alleged victim wrote in a 2008 email to an accused priest, recounting abuse that took place in 1977-78. “You also told me that[,] because I touched you, it was my fault[,] and I was just as bad as you.”
Nessel noted that inclusion in the report does not reflect that her department believes any given allegation is credible, substantiated or indicative of a crime.
She said the Diocese of Saginaw cooperated with the probe and provided her office with some of the reports of abuse.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office began investigating each of Michigan’s seven dioceses in 2018 after state authorities executed search warrants at the diocese, seizing 220 boxes of paper documents and more than 3.5 million digital documents. Other information was received through Attorney General’s clergy abuse tip line.
Since 2022, Nessel has been releasing reports on the allegations and the resulting findings. The final report, focused on the Archdiocese of Detroit, is expected to be released in December.
To date, 11 Catholic Church leaders have been charged with criminal offenses in connection with the probe.
“This has been a tremendous and important endeavor by many dedicated staff in our office and with the Michigan State Police, and I thank them for their commitment to justice and tireless effort on behalf of the victims,” Nessel said.