LANSING — The Diocese of Lansing did not handle a sexual assault case from the 1990s appropriately, according to a report commissioned by the diocese, which was released Thursday.

The Rev. Pat Egan, who was found to have sexually assaulted a man in 2014, had also sexually assaulted someone in the 1990s.

An independent law firm reviewed how the diocese handled the two reports of sexual assault against Egan and found that, while the diocese handled the 2014 case well, it failed to investigate the 1990 report.

“I repeat publicly now what I have said privately and personally to the victim in question: I am deeply sorry for the Diocese’s past failure and all should know that the allegation would have been handled differently today,” Bishop Earl Boyea said in a statement.

In September, the diocese released a list of 17 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. All 17 priests are either dead, have been removed from active ministry or are defrocked.

No investigation in 1990

Egan, now 82, first arrived in Lansing from the Archdiocese of Westminster in England as an extern priest in 1983. He has lived on-and-off in the Ann Arbor area since then, according to the diocese.

A 27-year-old man wrote to Egan in February 1990, telling the priest he had sexually abused him, according to the report, which was compiled by Patrick Hurford and his law firm, Honigman LLP.

The man said Egan sexually abused him while taking part in boxing training the year prior. Egan disputed the report, and the diocese was made aware of it.

No investigation, however, was done into the man's allegation and no action was taken against Egan, according to the report.

The Diocese of Lansing turned the report over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office in 2003, which declined to issue charges due to the statute of limitations. The diocese also gave it to the newly-created Diocesan Review Board, which could only investigate sexual abuse of minors. They determined Egan's victim was an adult and closed the inquiry.

A second man comes forward

A second sexual assault report against Egan came up in August 2014, when a priest told curial staff that a man in his early 20s had informed him of unusual activity by Egan during boxing sessions.

The priest said that Egan had wanted the man to hit him in his face, genitals and other body parts, and he sensed Egan was "becoming sexually excited when this would happen," according to a diocese explanation of the abuse.

Diocese administration began an investigation and prohibited Egan from participating in boxing events or ministering to youth in non-classroom or church settings, according to the diocese.

Several years later, in April 2017, the diocese received a letter that said Egan had continued to box. The diocese "was assured via a designated intermediary" that Egan was not boxing and was likely moving into an assisted living facility.

However, in September 2018, the diocese became aware of multiple other reports of Egan boxing. After an investigation, they revoked Egan's priestly facilities and extern status within the diocese.

The Diocese of Lansing has asked the Archdiocese of Westminster to consider calling Egan back home so they can appropriately monitor safeguarding measures.

“Fr. Pat Egan’s actions disgraced the holy priesthood and betrayed the trust placed in him,” said David Kerr, spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing. "The independent review carried out by Honigman made clear to us that, while our current procedures and policies are appropriate, they could be improved by a more independent and transparent process overseen by a lay-led Adult Review Board."

AG investigation still ongoing

The Michigan Attorney General's office is still investigating sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy across the state.

Six men have been charged with sexual assault, including two in the Lansing diocese.

Timothy Crowley was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Washtenaw County. He was a priest at various parishes, including St. Thomas Rectory in Ann Arbor.

Vincent DeLorenzo was a priest at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton. He's charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Genessee County.

How to report abuse

The diocese is not aware of any priest actively ministering at any diocesan parish who has abused a child, according to the release.

It encourages people to report abuse, no matter when it happened, to the Attorney General's investigation hotline at 844-324-3374.

There's also support available if people contact the diocese's victim assistance coordinator at 888-308-6252 or vac@dioceseoflansing.org.

The diocese has a zero-tolerance policy. It removes any member of church ministry credibly accused of having sexually abused a minor or vulnerable adult.

Read more:

Catholic Diocese of Lansing: 17 priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors

Attorney General Nessel to Catholic Church: Stop self-policing

Contact Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.