10 priests accused of abuse

Diocese of Gaylord releases list, last allegation decades old

By STEVE SCHULWITZ

News Staff Writer

ALPENA -- The Diocese of Gaylord has released a list of 10 priests who are either deceased or removed from public ministry against whom there have been credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor.

The list was compiled after a lengthy investigation that began in 2002 and went back as far as 1971. The most recent credible incident of sexual abuse of a minor involving clergy in the Diocese of Gaylord is alleged to have occurred three decades ago.

According to a news release issued by the diocese, officials there completed a review of all of its priests' files dating back to the establishment of the diocese. The results of that effort were then reported to the prosecutors in each of the 21 counties covered by the diocese --including Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency and Alcona counties. Officials also pledged to report any future allegations of sexual abuse of a minor involving clergy -- regardless of when the incident was alleged to have occurred, or whether the accused is living or dead.

The diocese said that will remain its practice moving forward.

"The Diocese of Gaylord has worked diligently to learn from the past, to compassionately assist victims on a path to healing, and to do all we can to prevent any child from being abused in the future," the news release said. "The Diocese of Gaylord has fully implemented the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and Essential Norms established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 and updated in 2005 and again in 2018. The Charter and Norms contain a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy along with preventive measures designed to help keep minors safe from harm."

Among the steps that will be taken to help prevent more assaults are mandatory background checks for employees and volunteers who work with minors, as well as training for adults and children to help identify warning signs, maintain appropriate boundaries and information on what to do if abuse is suspected.

Also included are guidelines for reconciliation and healing for victim-survivors and for accountability. An independent annual audit is completed each year, which specifically evaluates the diocese's compliance with the Charter and Norms. The Diocese of Gaylord has been found in compliance every year since the charter was established in 2002.

"Though we have publicly released information regarding allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving clergy of our diocese previously, we understand that it may be helpful to the healing process for victim-survivors, and to our continued efforts for increased transparency, to publish and maintain a list of those clergy who are known to have had credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor made against them in the Diocese of Gaylord," the press release said.

For purposes of this list, a "credible and substantiated allegation" against a priest or deacon who has served in the Diocese of Gaylord is an accusation that, after an investigation and review of available information, appears more likely than not to be true and has been accepted as credible by the bishop.

All Saints Catholic Parish in Alpena Pastor Joe Muszkiewicz said nobody ever likes to hear news of the type released by the diocese, but he said he believes it is important for the church to be transparent.

"This needs to be out there and we are not hiding it," he said. "It is not wrong to have the news out there, what is wrong is what these men did and we can't hide from that."

Diocese officials said the list will be updated if additional information comes forward or if there are future determinations of credible allegations.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.

Accused priests

The list below shows Diocese of Gaylord ordained or incardinated priests against whom credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor in the diocese have been made:

Patrick Barrett

Permanently removed from public ministry 2002

Deceased 2006

Ronald Gronowski

Permanently removed from public ministry 2002

Lionel Harnish

Removed from ministry 1986

Deceased 2011

James Holtz

Permanently removed from public ministry 2002

Benedict Marciulionis

Removed from ministry 1981

Deceased 2000

Raymond Pilarski

Permanently removed from public ministry 2006

Deceased 2017

Terrence Raymond

Left priesthood 1985

Deceased 1986

Robert Gordon Smith

Deceased 1990

Priests from Religious Orders against whom credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made while they served in the Diocese of Gaylord:

Laurus Rhode

Removed from diocese and returned to Religious Order 1993

Deceased 1995

Leo Olschaysken

Removed from diocese and returned to Religious Order 1974

Deceased

Report abuse

To report allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy-- even if it is in the past -- individuals are encouraged to contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at 989-705-9010. The Diocese of Gaylord also strongly encourages anyone who has reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected in any way by any person to report the matter to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 855-444-3911. The Michigan Attorney General's office has also set up special phone line for people to share information that may be of help in their investigation. That number is 844-324-3374.