Intake and Investigations
The Archdiocese of Detroit encourages individuals to report clergy sexual abuse of minors and others directly to law enforcement – no matter when the abuse occurred.
Individuals may also contact the Archdiocese of Detroit. We place no deadlines or time limits on those who wish to come forward for help; be it five, 15, or 50 years later, our diocese accepts and responds to all reports.
The Archdiocese of Detroit reports every complaint it receives, regardless of its source or the date of the alleged activity, to civil authorities. No complaints are held back, pre-screened or disregarded. This is done in accordance with voluntary agreements signed in the spring of 2002 by the archdiocese and prosecutors from all six counties within its boundaries. As a result of the agreements, the archdiocese shared case files of priests accused of sexual misconduct in previous years and committed to turning over all complaints in the future.
Report
Individuals with knowledge of sexual abuse by clergy or other Church representatives are urged to contact local law enforcement and/or the Michigan Attorney General’s Office at (844) 324-3374 or aginvestigations@michigan.gov. Individuals also may contact the Archdiocese of Detroit by visiting protect.aod.org calling the toll-free abuse reporting line at (866) 343-8055 or by emailing ReportAbuse@aod.org. There are no time limits or restrictions on individuals wishing to report abuse.
Every complaint shared with the Archdiocese of Detroit, regardless of its source or the date of the alleged activity, is reported to civil authorities. No complaints are held back, pre-screened or disregarded.
In 2018, the Archdiocese of Detroit complied with a directive made by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to report all cases of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults by clergy and others in ministry to a special task force established by the Attorney General’s Office. This has been our practice since that time. Prior to that, reports were shared pursuant to a 2002 agreement signed with the Prosecuting Attorneys in the six counties within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Also that year, the archdiocese turned over to civil authorities its files relating to allegations of abuse from previous years. Regardless of what the future might bring, we will remain committed to first reporting sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults by clergy and others in ministry to law enforcement.
During any and all civil proceedings, accused priests, deacons and other Church leaders are responsible for their own legal expenses.
How to Report Abuse
Individuals with knowledge of sexual abuse by clergy or others in ministry are urged to contact local law enforcement and/or the Michigan Attorney General’s Office at (844) 324-3374 or aginvestigations@michigan.gov
Individuals also may contact the Archdiocese of Detroit. The Archdiocese of Detroit's abuse reporting Intake Coordinator, Tony Latarski, can be reached at (313) 237-6060, toll-free at (866) 343-8055, or via email to reportabuse@aod.org. Mr. Latarski has an extensive background in law enforcement and works to receive and respond to all complaints. All calls and messages regarding complaints of sexual abuse will be returned in a timely manner. Callers will be asked to provide their name and telephone number.
An individual may be more comfortable having first contact with the Victim Assistance Coordinator (Ms. Andrea Foley, VAC@aod.org, (313) 237-6062), but the report must nevertheless be made through the Intake Coordinator.
There are no time limits or restrictions on individuals wishing to report abuse. Every complaint shared with the Archdiocese of Detroit, regardless of its source or the date of the alleged activity, is reported to civil authorities. No complaints are held back, pre-screened or disregarded.
Reporting Abuse by Bishops
The US Bishops instituted a protocol called in CBAR (Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting System). It is provided by a third-party company for gathering and relaying to appropriate Church authorities reports of sexual abuse and misconduct, as well as negligence by Bishops in addressing complaints or being reckless in policies to protect children and vulnerable adults.
To make a report, visit ReportBishopAbuse.org or phone (800) 276-1562. When a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities. Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential. CBAR is provided by Convercent, Incorporated, a commercial vendor of ethics reporting services.
Review
The Archbishop takes direct interest and involvement in these cases; however, he has appointed a priest to head up investigating, prosecuting, and monitoring cases of sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults by clergy and others in ministry. This priest is also the Archbishop’s representative to the Archdiocesan Review Board. The role is titled Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline and the current priest is Father John Maksym, J.D., J.C.L. The Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline is assisted by a staff of investigators, canon lawyers, and a Restricted Clergy Supervisor.
Allegations involving clergy sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults by clergy and other in ministry are reviewed by the Archdiocesan Review Board, which is comprised predominately of lay people, led by a chairperson. The Review Board considers a complaint to be “credible\" if it has a “semblance of truth,” meaning it appears to be or could possibly be true.
When reviewing complaints, the Archdiocese of Detroit follows guidelines set by the U.S. Bishops to direct our policy on sexual abuse issues
Restrict
As part of the canonical review process, all clerics against whom an allegation of sexual misconduct is found by the Review Board to have a semblance of truth are restricted from public ministry pending the outcome of their canonical process .
Allegations are first reported to the civil authorities. Even before the Review Board has been invited to make their assessment of the allegation, it is often the case that precautionary measures are made to constrain the cleric’s ministry. Nevertheless, the cleric and others in ministry enjoy a good reputation and presumption of innocence; therefore, before the determination of semblance of truth and subsequent canonical process, there is a balance to strike between protecting the Faithful and preserving a persons reputation.
If at the conclusion of a canonical process the accused is found to have committed the offense, the Holy See can impose a penalty to either of permanently remove the cleric from public ministry or dismiss the cleric from the clerical state (laicization, which formalizes a clerics return to living life as if a lay person (non-clerics) and severing ties with the diocese.
The Archdiocese remains in contact with restricted clergy to verify compliance with the strict limitations on them. Those priests who are permanently removed from ministry are monitored by a Restricted Clergy Supervisor, who, at present (2026), is a retied police officer. Priests with such restrictions are required to meet or make contact with the Restricted Clergy Supervisor on a regular basis as defined by their circumstance and supervision plan.
Send to Vatican
If, following a recommendation by the Review Board and/or the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline, notice is sent to Archbishop Weisenburger, who forwards the case to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), which reviews and renders judgments in all cases involving the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy.
Following the Vatican’s review and judgment, an individual who was found guilty may receive a permanent penalty of living a life of prayer and penance or dismissal from the clerical state, also called laicization. In either case, he may no longer represent himself as a priest or deacon, can no longer wear clerical attire and may not publicly exercise any form of Church ministry.
