Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a 250-page report on June 25, 2026, detailing decades of clergy sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. The report names 38 clergy members accused of misconduct, marking the latest phase of a statewide investigation into institutional failures.
Report Findings and Named Clergy
The investigation identified 38 clergy members, including priests, deacons, and religious brothers, who faced credible allegations of sexual abuse against minors. The report spans cases from the 1950s to the early 2000s, with many incidents occurring before public awareness of the crisis. According to the report, the diocese failed to report allegations to law enforcement and reassigned known offenders to other parishes.
“This report lays bare the systemic cover-up that allowed predators to remain in ministry,” Nessel said in a press conference. “We are committed to transparency and justice for survivors.”
Diocese Response and Survivor Reactions
The Diocese of Saginaw issued a statement expressing sorrow and pledging cooperation. “We apologize to all survivors and their families for the pain caused,” the statement read. “We have implemented new safeguarding policies and encourage anyone with information to come forward.”
Survivor advocacy groups criticized the response as inadequate. “A report is not justice,” said Sarah Thompson, founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). “We need criminal charges and financial compensation for victims.”
Broader Context of Michigan Investigation
This report is part of a broader probe launched by Nessel in 2018 into all seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan. Previous reports covered the dioceses of Lansing, Marquette, and Kalamazoo. The Saginaw report is the longest and most detailed to date, reflecting the scale of abuse in that region.
The investigation has led to several criminal charges across the state. In 2024, a former priest from the Diocese of Grand Rapids was sentenced to 15 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct. The Saginaw report includes 15 cases referred to local prosecutors for potential charges.
Impact and Next Steps
The report recommends the diocese establish a compensation fund for survivors and implement mandatory reporting protocols. Nessel also called for legislative changes to extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. Currently, Michigan law allows victims to file civil suits until age 28, but advocates argue this is insufficient.
“We will continue to pursue justice for every survivor,” Nessel said. “No institution is above the law.”
