Fr. Michael Joseph Charland

Report to the Archdiocese in 2002 that Charland sexually assaulted a boy, age 17, during confession while on Teens Encounter Christ retreat at a St. Paul parish in 1981. Charland was then campus ministry director at St. Thomas College in St. Paul MN. Left the order in 1984, married. Laicized 11/10/1989. Order released name as credibly accused 7/7/2015, and part of a 2/2015 settlement. In 7/2015 he was working as a therapist at a Woodbury MN counseling center. No longer listed on center’s site 9/2015; professional license revoked. On Duluth diocese’s list 12/3/2015; Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese’s updated list 4/1/2019. It notes abuse in the 1970s, reported in 2018. Charland’s file shows that he was removed from his position of Assistant Principal and counselor at St. Henry’s Prep Seminary in Belleville IL in 1/1977 because the rector learned he had fondled a boy during counseling while the boy was sitting naked on his lap, and had touched him sexually during other counseling sessions. Charland admitted the abuse. He was quickly and quietly transferred to St. Thomas College. Involved in Teens Encounter Christ in the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese, among other dioceses, with the role of spiritual director. Continued to abuse boys during counseling sessions. Other documents created during the laicization process refer to additional victims and state that Charland’s misconduct began before ordination. (The Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese’s list erroneously states that Charland died in 2004; it was accused priest Peter Charland who died in 2004.) On the Belleville diocese’s list 9/20/2022. Included on the Diocese of Superior’s list in 11/2022; multiple allegations noted, occurring outside of the diocese in the 1970-1980s. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.