Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

8 Accused in This Diocese

    Fr. Richard A. Fritz

    Ordained: 1975
    Status: Accused

    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Ordained in 1975 for the P.I.M.E. order. Incardinated into the Diocese of Kalamazoo 11/24/1981.  In 2017 Fritz was charged with embezzling from his parishes. The charges were dropped. He retired after the embezzlement allegations. In 2/2020 the Diocese announced that it had received credible allegations of sexual abuse against Fritz dating back to the late 1970s-early 1980s; no information as to age of victim(s). Included in 4/2024 on the Diocese's list of those disqualified from working with children. Noted to be forbidden to function as a priest. Included in the MI Attorney General's 5/22/2024 Kalamazoo report, which reveals that in 2004 the Diocese received a report that Fritz sexually abused a girl, ages 13-17, in the late 1970-early 1980s. Law enforcement was notified 6/1/2005; no charges due to the statute of limitations. Fritz was apparently kept in ministry. In 2019 the Attorney General investigated; the Diocese's Review Board deemed the allegations credible in 2/2020.

    Fr. Jerome M. Heyman

    Order: OSA
    Ordained: 1961
    Status: Accused

    Died: 02/19/2023
    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Named publicly as accused by the MI Attorney General in its Diocese of Kalamazoo report 5/22/2024. Assigned in the diocese 1991 until his retirement in 2006. Accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward women. Accused in a 2005 letter to Bishop Murray of making sexual advances a woman and her 12-year-old granddaughter. Heyman allegedly tried to kiss the girl and said that he wished he was 60 years younger. Heyman agreed to resign that year after his 75th birthday, the normal retirement age. In 2011 another woman reported to the Diocese sexual misconduct toward her by Heyman. (Heyman was in residence at that time at a Home Glen IL parish, in the Diocese of Joliet.) The Diocese informed Heyman's Order and asked that he "curtail his trips to the Diocese of Kalamazoo" and undergo counseling. Heyman died in 2/2023, at age 91.

    Fr. Thomas G. Lapine

    Donate Photo
    Order: CSC
    Ordained: 1949
    Status: Accused

    Died: 06/17/1994
    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Worked 1944-1964 in OR at Columbia Preparatory School and the University of Portland. Hospital chaplain in various places 1964-1984, including St. Joseph's in Mishawaka, IN. Chaplain at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo MI 1969-1981. Retired in 1992. Died in 1994 at Moreau Seminary in Notre Dame, IN. Included in the MI Attorney General's 5/22/2024 report on the Diocese of Kalamazoo. In 2016 a man reported to the Diocese that Lapine sexually abused him as a 5th-grader in 1973 at St. Mary School.

    Fr. David C. Otto

    Ordained: 1977
    Status: Accused

    Died: 08/27/2019
    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Named publicly as accused in the 5/22/2024 MI Attorney General's Kalamazoo report. Retired in 2014. In 2018 a woman told the Diocese that she, her sister, and other girls were molested as children in the 1980s by Otto. The abuse allegedly included inappropriate hugs, fondling and mouth kisses. Otto denied abusing the girls but acknowledged he was a "hugger." He died 8/27/2019.

    Fr. Gary William Pamment

    Ordained: 1963
    Status: Accused

    Died: 06/10/2008
    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Named publicly as accused by in the MI Attorney General's 5/22/24 Kalamazoo report. In 1999 the parents of a nine-year-old boy told the bishop they were concerned about Pamment's behavior toward their son. In letters to the parents 1997-1999, he would say, for example, "I love [your boy] so much and enjoy his company" and "Special hugs, kisses and caresses for my 'little pal." Pamment died 6/10/2008. In 2014 the Diocese received an allegation that Pamment sexually abused a young altar boy at St. Mary's Visitation Church in the 1980s, beginning shortly after the boy's first communion and confession. The abuse allegedly included anal and oral rape. The Review Board determined in 2015 that there was not enough evidence to find the allegation credible. The Diocese offered to investigate the matter further.

    Fr. Brian L. Stanley

    Ordained: 1996
    Status: Guilty plea

    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    In 8/2019 the MI Attorney General announced charges against Stanley of false imprisonment. In 2013 he was placed on leave after an allegation that he held a teenage boy against his will in the janitor's room at St. Margaret's, wrapping the boy in plastic wrap and covering his eyes and mouth with masking tape. The boy's parents had reportedly asked Stanley to counsel him. Per the A.G., diocesan records show that this behavior by Stanley had been occurring for "decades" and was sexually motivated. Police investigated in 2013; no charges. Reinstated. Removed again in 1/2017 after more allegations. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced in a plea deal 1/27/2020 to 60 days in jail, five years probation and to register as a sex offender for 15 years. Reportedly state police removed him from the registry due to a ruling in another case. Per the A.G., three other victims had come forward, one alleging abuse at age 13. Included in 4/2024 on the Diocese's list of those disqualified from working with children. Noted to be forbidden to function as a priest. Included in the 6/22/2024 MI A.G.'s Kalamazoo report.

    Fr. Jacob Vellian

    Ordained: 1961
    Status: Charged

    Died: 12/22/2022
    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Priest of the Archeparchy of Kottayam, India, of the Syro-Malabar Church. Monsignor. Per a USCCB Advisory, Vellian was working in Kalamazoo temporarily in 1973-1974. He had been in active ministry in various dioceses in the U.S. in the recent past. The Diocese said in Fall 2010 that it had recently received an allegation of sexual abuse of a female minor by Vellian. The Review Board deemed the allegations credible. Vellian's accuser said she told the Diocese in 2002. Also, she said Fr. Leroy right, later credibly accused, walked in on them during an assault in 1973, then yelled at her for being there. In early 2010 Vellian was found by his victim to be director in San Jose CA of Knanaya Catholic Mission. She contacted the Kalamazoo Diocese. Vellian was shown in 5/2010 on the Mission's website to have retired 5/1/2010. The woman filed a criminal complaint 5/14/2010; no prosecutions due to the statute of limitations. Kalamazoo Bishop Bradley sent the case to the Vatican which declined a penal trial, but said Vellian should be monitored. Archbishop of Kottayam, Mar Matthew MoolakkattIn, told Bradley Vellian was not in active ministry and posed no risk. In 12/2010 a woman alleged Vellian abused her 11-year-old daughter as a visiting priest in a Watervliet church around 1967. In 9/2011 Vellian was living in Kerala India's Kottayam district, in a Kaduthuruthi seminary. In 2013 Vellian was found by his first victim to come forward to be in public ministry. Bradley again wrote to Moolakkattin. Vellian was found again to be active in 2014. Per Mooakkattin, Vellian was in poor health and restricted mostly to a priests' retirement home. Investigated by the MI Attorney General. Charged in 5/2019 with rape of a 15-year-old girl in the early 1970s. The Attorney General was to seek extradition from India. In 2020 a woman reported that Vellian molested her daughter, age 13, around 1971 or 1972. Vellian reportedly died in India in 12/2022, awaiting extradition. Included in 4/2024 on the Kalamazoo diocese's list of those banned from working with children. Had been forbidden to function as a priest in the diocese. Included in the MI Attorney General's 5/22/24 Kalamazoo report.

    Fr. Leroy E. White

    Ordained: 1956
    Status: Accused

    Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo MI

    Ordained for the Diocese of Lansing; became a priest of the Diocese of Kalamazoo after it was established in 12/1970. Accused in 1991 of touching the breasts of teenage girls and women. Similar allegations also in 1/1992. Sent for treatment out of state 10/1991-3/1992, asked to leave due to noncompliance. Returned to ministry in 4/1992, required to undergo counseling. Retired in 3/1994 and worked in the Lansing diocese while in residence at a parish there. Removed again in 2002 for the 1991 allegations. In 2004 the Vatican declined a penal process and allowed restricted ministry in the Lansing diocese. Prohibited from working in the Kalamazoo diocese. Prohibited in 2005 from public ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he had been assisting at a parish. Included on the Kalamazoo diocese's list in 4/2024 of those forbidden to work with children. Included in the MI Attorney General's 5/22/2024 Kalamazoo report. 

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