Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel disclosed a grim report detailing allegations of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The comprehensive document, compiled from victim interviews, police investigations, and over 3.5 million digital documents from the diocese, lists 19 priests associated with sexual misconduct claims since 1950.
Released with the intention of shattering the silence on such abuses, the report draws from a vast pool of resources: a tip line operating since 2018, 220 boxes of paper documents, and reports disclosed by the Diocese itself, upon which the report is heavily reliant. Nessel's investigation seeks to bring justice to the victims, affirming that, “For too long, sexual assault and abuse have been surrounded by silence,” This sentiment was echoed in a statement from an interview with Michigan's Department of Attorney General, highlighting the Department’s dedication to thoroughly review and investigate each case.
The Kalamazoo enquiry is part of a larger statewide effort by the Attorney General’s office to investigate clergy abuses across Michigan’s seven dioceses. The criminal charges issued in the light of these investigations have led to convictions for 38 survivors, with the two cases from the Diocese of Kalamazoo involving Brian Stanley and Jacob Vellian, as reported by Michigan’s Department of Attorney General. Stanley was sentenced in 2020 and Vellian's case was closed following his death.
Despite the pursuit of justice, numerous barriers like the statute of limitations, deceased accused individuals, and the unwillingness of some victims to pursue charges have hampered efforts. Still, the release of this report is seen as a victory for the victims, who have suffered in silent pain, waiting for an acknowledgment of their trauma.
The Attorney General’s office encourages anyone with information relevant to the investigations to approach the clergy abuse hotline or email their office. Resources for victims are also made available through designated support avenues, emphasizing the state's commitment to support and bring closure for survivors.
