LANSING, MI — The Catholic Diocese of Lansing has released the names of 17 priests it says have been “credibly accused of abusing a minor" since the diocese was founded in 1937.

Diocese officials published the list on the diocesan website, dioceseoflansing.org, Friday, Sept. 27.

In a statement issued on Friday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney said, "The Lansing Diocese has taken an important step today by publicly sharing information about priests who have been credibly accused of abusing minors. We welcome this transparency by the Diocese and will continue to work on our own efforts to pursue justice for the victims of clergy abuse.”

All of the priests included in the list are now either dead or no longer in active ministry, according to Diocese officials. They represent about 2.8% of all 1,654 priests who have served within the Diocese of Lansing in its 82-year history. Furthermore, diocese officials said more than 90% of those allegations stem from a three-decade period beginning in the 1960s.

Diocese officials say there have been a total of 73 allegations against these 17 priests and the alleged victims in these reports include 66 boys, four girls and three other victims whose gender was unreported.

Diocese of Lansing officials say they are not aware of any “credible allegations of clerical sexual abuse of a minor occurring since the implementation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children in 2002” and “in the vast majority of cases, the alleged abuse was not reported to the diocese until after the 2002 charter was established.”

“The primary intended audience of this list are victims of abuse: to encourage presently unknown victims to come forward; to help victims expose their abusers; and to assist victims in finding healing — it is also hoped that this information will assist all to ensure that such abuse never happens again,” Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing said in a statement Friday.

“I know I am not alone in feeling deep shame and sorrow upon learning of the plight of victims in recent years. I have met with many of them; all deserve our compassion, solace and support,” his statement continued. “As a Church, we are deeply sorry for what happened to you. As your bishop, I offer you a profound apology for the sins of my brothers. As a diocese, we are pledged to help you find healing and peace.”

Below is the list of credibly-accused priests’ names and assignments, as published by the diocese. An asterisk (*) indicates multiple allegations.

Diocese of Lansing clergy permanently removed from ministry:

Aubin, Joseph Emile, Ordained – 1961, Senior Priest Status – 6/26/02, Removal from public ministry – 11/15/2018

Assignments: St. Paul, Owosso – Parochial Vicar St. Leo, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Philip, Battle Creek – Parochial Vicar Michigan Boys Training School - Chaplain St. Isidore, Laingsburg – Pastor St. John the Evangelist, Davison – Pastor St. Mary, Durand – Pastor

Crowley, Timothy, Ordained for the Congregation of the Holy Ghost – 1976, Incardinated to Diocese of Lansing – 1982, Removed from ministry – 7/15/02, Laicized - 6/26/15

Assignments: St. Patrick, Brighton - Parochial Vicar Holy Rosary, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Mary Star of the Sea, Jackson - Parochial Vicar St. Anthony of Padua, Hillsdale – Pastor St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor – Pastor Archdiocese of Anchorage

* DeLorenzo, Vincent Anthony, Ordained – 1965, Removed from ministry – 1/23/02, Laicization pending

Assignments: St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing – Parochial Vicar St. Joseph, Kalamazoo – Parochial Vicar St. Augustine, Kalamazoo – Parochial Vicar St. Casimir, Lansing – Parochial Vicar St. Pius X, Flint – Pastor St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing – Pastor Holy Redeemer, Burton – Pastor

* Guoan, Paul James, Ordained – 1987, Removed from ministry – 3/11/02, Laicized - 6/26/15

Assignments: St. Pius X, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Robert Bellarmine, Flushing – Parochial Vicar St. Gerard, Lansing – Parochial Vicar SS Charles and Helena, Clio - Pastor Jackson Area Hospital Chaplain, In-Residence, Queen of the Miraculous Medal, Jackson Jackson Area Prison Chaplain, In-Residence, St. Mary Star of the Sea, Jackson St. Joseph Home, Jackson – Sacramental Minister

* Healy, Terrence M, Ordained for Diocese of Marquette – 1968, Incardinated to Diocese of Lansing – 1985, Removed from ministry - 9/4/87, Laicized - 6/12/92

Assignments: Holy Family, Grand Blanc – Parochial Vicar St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor – Parochial Vicar St. Joseph, Saint Johns – Parochial Vicar Holy Family, Ovid – Parochial Administrator Holy Family, Ovid – Pastor St. John the Baptist, Howell – Pastor

Kelly, Michael Robert, Ordained – 1976, Left active ministry - 12/1/83, Laicized - 2/9/92

Assignments: St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor – Parochial Vicar St. Michael, Flint – Parochial Vicar Holy Family Grand Blanc – Parochial Vicar St. Therese, Lansing – In-Residence St. Casimir, Lansing – Parochial Vicar St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing – Parochial Vicar

* Novak, James Martin, Ordained – 1957, Senior Priest status - 6/25/97, Removed from ministry – 11/25/02, Laicization pending

Assignments: St. John the Evangelist, Jackson – Parochial Vicar St. Luke, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. John, Benton Harbor – Parochial Vicar St. Ann, Cassopolis – Pastor Office of Catholic Education, Lansing Catholic Central High School St. Agnes, Fowlerville – Parochial Administrator St. Joseph, Owosso – Pastor St. Therese, Lansing – Pastor St. Mary, Westphalia – Pastor

Diocese of Lansing deceased clergy:

* Lee, James William Jr, Ordained – 1948, Senior Priest status - 10/15/84, Died - 1/25/92

Assignments: St. John, Benton Harbor – Parochial Vicar Resurrection, Lansing – Parochial Vicar St. John the Evangelist, Jackson – Parochial Vicar St. James, Mason - Pastor Our Lady of the Pines, Nevis, Minnesota – In-Residence St. Alice, Plainview, TX – In-Residence St. Dominic, Clinton – Pastor Holy Family Grand Blanc – Parochial Vicar St. Joseph, Ypsilanti – Pastor St. Peter, Blissfield - Parochial Administrator

Lesniak, Marian John, Ordained – 1950, Senior Priest status - 10/3/02, Died - 10/9/2011

Assignments: All Saints, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Stanislaus Kostka, Jackson - Parochial Vicar St. Joseph the Worker, Jackson – Pastor

* Martin, John Edward, Ordained – 1918, Senior Priest status - 6/15/66, Died – 11/9/68

Assignments: St. Vincent, Detroit – Parochial Vicar Sacred Heart, Yale, MI – Pastor St. Philip, Battle Creek – Parochial Vicar St. Mary, Morrice – Pastor St. Isidore, Laingsburg – Pastor

* Slowey, John Donald, Ordained – 1940, Died – 1/13/83

Assignments: Holy Maternity, Dowagiac – Parochial Vicar St. Michael, Flint Percy Jones Army Hospital, Battle Creek – Chaplain St. Charles, Coldwater – Parochial Vicar St. Louis University – student Catholic University – student St. Casimir, Lansing – Parochial Vicar St. Vincent Home for Children – Director St. Mary, Niles – Pastor

Tomaszewski, Chester Vincent, Ordained – 1959, Sick Leave – 1/15/87, Died – 10/21/87

Assignments: Holy Redeemer, Flint (Burton) – Parochial Vicar St. Joseph, Watervliet – Parochial Vicar St. Mary, Paw Paw – Parochial Vicar St. John the Evangelist, Davison – Parochial Vicar Our Lady of Fatima, Michigan Center – Parochial Vicar St. Mary, Bronson - Parochial Vicar St. Ann, Cassopolis – Pastor St. Stanislaus, Detroit – Parochial Vicar St. Paul, Owosso – Parochial Vicar St. Stanislaus, Bay City – Parochial Vicar SS Charles & Helena, Clio – Parochial Vicar St. Anthony of Padua, Hillsdale – Parochial Vicar St. Dominic, Clinton – Pastor St. Joseph, Ypsilanti – Pastor

Wyszynski, Darius, Ordained for Assumption BVM Franciscan Province, Wisconsin – 1958, Incardinated to Diocese of Lansing – 1970, Senior Priest Status – 11/5/07, Died – 2/17/2013

Assignments: St. Stanislaus, Wyandotte – Parochial Vicar St. Mary, Green Bay, Wisconsin – Parochial Vicar Immaculate Conception, Three Rivers – Parochial Vicar St. John the Evangelist, Jackson – Parochial Vicar St. Philip, Battle Creek – Parochial Vicar St. Michael, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Leo, Flint – Parochial Vicar St. Joseph, Ypsilanti – Pastor St. Stanislaus Kostka, Jackson – Pastor

Extern clergy – clergy of other dioceses – that had a credible allegation of sexual abuse during their time in the Diocese of Lansing:

* Jason Sigler, Ordained for Archdiocese of Winnipeg – 1966, Dates present in Diocese – 1968-1970; 1974, Laicized – 2/23/99

Assignments: St. John the Evangelist, Jackson St. Robert, Flushing

Religious Order clergy with a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor during their time in the Diocese of Lansing:

Boardway, Alphonse O.F.M. Conv, Our Lady of Consolation Province Ordination – 1967, Died – 1997

Assignments: Holy Cross, Lansing

* McHugh, Joseph, CSSp, Irish Province Ordination – 1958, Dates present in Diocese – 1974-1976, Died – 9/25/07

Assignments: St. Gerard, Lansing – In-Residence

* Rapp, James, OSFS Toledo-Detroit Province Ordination Dates present in Diocese – 1981-1986, Laicization – 9/21/09

Assignments: Lumen Christi High School, Jackson

The publication of the list is the result of an internal review of reports of sexual abuse of minors made to the diocese over the past 82 years, the release states.

The Diocese said for purposes of this list, the term ‘credible allegation’ means that diocesan officials have determined, that regarding an allegation of clerical sexual abuse of a minor made to the Diocese, one or more of the following existed:

• With the assistance of the expert Diocesan Review Board, the Bishop of Lansing determined that the allegation was credible, i.e., that the allegation appeared to be true.

• The accused admitted the allegation;

• The allegation resulted in a criminal conviction;

• The allegation resulted in the accused’s removal from ministry or laicization; or

• The allegation resulted in a civil settlement with either the accused or the Diocese.

The diocese also is hosting a press conference Friday at the Diocese of Lansing to be attended by Boyea, Will Bloomfield, general counsel to the Diocese of Lansing, and Eileen Craig, a survivor of sexual abuse who now counsels fellow victims through the Grief to Grace program.

Boyea will then celebrate Holy Mass in the adjacent St. Mary Cathedral at 12:05 p.m.

Alleged sexual abuse within the Catholic Diocese of Lansing and Michigan’s six other Catholic dioceses dating back to 1950 is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

In September 2018, then-Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette revealed his office was investigating allegations of Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse spanning more than a half-century in all seven Michigan dioceses. Several dioceses in Michigan — including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Gaylord and Saginaw — have issued statements or taken actions to address the crisis.

During a press conference in February, Nessel affirmed she would continue the investigation her predecessor started last year. At that point, her office had received more than 300 tips of alleged sexual misconduct in the state’s seven Catholic dioceses since the investigation began and she estimated upwards of 1,000 sex-abuse victims could be uncovered.

Then in May, Nessel announced criminal sexual conduct charges against five men who were priests in Michigan. By then, more tips had come in and members of the Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigative team were working to review 450 tips and hundreds of thousands of pages of documents seized in simultaneous raids on Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses in 2018.

The church’s child sex-abuse scandal reaches far beyond Michigan, it’s a national and international crisis.

A grand jury report released in August 2018 found that more than 300 Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children since the 1940s, and senior church officials, including Cardinal Donald Wuerl, former archbishop of Washington, D.C., systematically covered up the abuse, the Associated Press reported. Francis accepted Wuerl’s resignation a couple months later.

That’s one example of many.

During his 2018 Christmas speech to Vatican bureaucrats, Pope Francis demanded priests who have sexually assaulted children turn themselves in and vowed that the Catholic Church will “never again” hide their crimes, the Associated Press reported at the time. Furthermore, Francis acknowledged that the church in the past had failed to treat the problem seriously. And in February of this year, Francis summoned church leaders to a sex abuse prevention summit at the Vatican.

Tim Lennon is president of St. Louis, Missouri-based Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests , or SNAP. The organization has a contact list of about 46,000 people and the network comprises about 25,000 survivors, figures that grow every year, Lennon previously told MLive/The Saginaw News. For comparison, the network had 10,000 people in its contact list in 2010.

As a survivor of clergy abuse himself, Lennon offered the following advice to other victims, “The first thing I suggest is talk to your family — a brother, a sister, a spouse. If you’re a younger person, tell a counselor or your parents. In general, we encourage all to report crimes to the police. In sexual abuse, especially of young people, if there is a reasonable suspicion of abuse, please report it."

Lennon could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Anyone who has information regarding Catholic church clergy abuse in Michigan is urged to call the Attorney General’s investigation hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 844-324-3374, send an email to aginvestigations@michigan.gov, or submit an anonymous tip here.