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GAYLORD, MI – The Catholic Diocese of Gaylord has created an online list of priests and deacons who have been "credibly accused" of sexual abuse of a minor since 1971.
As of Thursday, November 15, the list included 10 clergy. Eight of the priests have died. The two living priests – Ronald Gronowski and James Holtz – were "permanently excluded from the public ministry".
The publication of the list comes as part of a public inquiry into the sexual abuse perpetrated by priests led by the Michigan Attorney General's Office. In August 2018, the public body opened an investigation into the treatment of allegations dating back to 1950.
The diocese said it had already published information about allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving priests or deacons, but chose to publish and maintain the list because "it could be helpful to the healing process of the victims -survivants ", and to continue its efforts towards greater transparency.
A "credible and well founded allegation", as used by the diocese, is an accusation that, after investigation and review of available information, is more likely to be true and has been accepted as credible by the bishop, according to the diocese.
The diocese indicates that the last credible incident of sexual abuse involving a clergyman in the Diocese of Gaylord would have occurred three decades ago.
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Similar surveys are underway in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska and Florida.
The list
- Patrick Barrett – Permanently removed from the public prosecutor's office in 2002. Died in 2006.
- Ronald Gronowski – Permanently removed from the public prosecutor's office in 2002.
- Lionel Harnish – Deleted from the Ministry 1986. Died in 2007.
- James Holtz – Permanently removed from the public prosecutor's office in 2002.
- Benoît Marciulionis – Deleted from the ministry in 1981. Died in 2000.
- Raymond Pilarski – Permanently removed from the Public Ministry in 2006. Died in 2017.
- Terrence Raymond – Left priesthood in 1985. Died in 1986.
- Robert Gordon Smith – Died in 1990
- Laurus Rhode – Withdrawn from the diocese and returned to the religious order of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) in 1993. Died in 1995.
- Leo Olschaysken – Withdrawn from the diocese and brought back to the religious order O. Praem in 1974. Died.
Gronowski resigned from churches in Lake City and Manton in 2002 because of an allegation of sexual misconduct in the 1970s, in 1995, according to a Midland Daily News report.
"I can not express how deeply I am sorry for the anxiety that this person has suffered because of my actions," Gronowski said in a letter to the parishioners announcing his resignation, the report said. "Words can not share the depth of my sadness and sorrow for any embarrassment and pain caused to my own family, to my fellow priests, to the diocese and to our dear Catholic Church."
Holtz resigned as parish priest from the parishes of St. Mary of the Woods in Kalkaska and St. Aloysius in Fife Lake in 2002, according to a report by Traverse City Record Eagle. He was accused of sexually abusing a minor in the early 1980s.
Since 2002, the Gaylord Diocese has declared that it has fully implemented the Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth and the Essential Standards established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The charter includes mandatory background checks for employees and volunteers working with minors, as well as training for adults and children to help them identify warning signs, maintain appropriate boundaries and determine what to do in case of abuse.
An annual independent audit is conducted each year to assess the diocese's compliance with the charter. The diocese has declared itself in compliance every year since 2002, when the charter was created.
In 2017, a 44-year-old priest from the diocese was found not guilty of first- and third-degree criminal sexual behavior. He spent five months in jail after being charged with sexual assault against a fellow practitioner.
The diocese of Gaylord includes the 21 northernmost counties of the Lower Peninsula. The region comprises 75 parishes and nearly 54,000 Catholics.
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To report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by a clergyman – past or present – individuals are encouraged to contact the victim assistance coordinator of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the States. States of America, Larry LaCross, at 989-705-9010.
In Michigan, many professionals, including clergy, teachers, doctors and counselors, are mandated journalists. The law requires these individuals to make an oral report immediately to the Michigan Department of Health and Social Services (MDHHS) if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is being neglected or abused.
In addition, the diocese of Gaylord said in his online message that he encourages anyone suspecting that a child is being abused or neglected to report the case to local authorities. The MDHHS maintains a 24-hour statewide hotline at 855-444-3911.
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