The Michigan Attorney General’s Office is expected to release a report on clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw this spring, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Nessel made the announcement on Dec. 15, 2025, when her office released findings from the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the fifth Michigan diocese to receive a report since the statewide investigation began in October 2018. The final report to be issued in Michigan will address the Archdiocese of Detroit and is expected by the end of the year.
As with the other dioceses, the Saginaw investigation examines allegations dating from 1950 to the present and includes both diocesan priests and members of religious orders who served in the Diocese during that time.
“While the realities revealed in this report are painful for our Church to confront, they present an essential opportunity for accountability, healing and for moving forward together in the light of Christ,” Bishop Robert Gruss said.
The Diocese of Saginaw, along with the dioceses of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Gaylord and Marquette, has cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s Office throughout the investigation.
In addition, the Diocese has committed significant resources to prevention and training efforts and follows the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. The charter establishes procedures for responding to allegations of abuse and includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing and accountability.
With the guidance of the Saginaw Diocese Review Board, the diocese implemented its Safe Environment Policy and Code of Conduct in 2020. These policies are reviewed and updated regularly.
“We must remain vigilant and continue to do all we can to both prevent future abuse and support victim-survivors,” Bishop Gruss wrote in a 2022 letter. “Through ongoing education, we strive to create and maintain safe environments for our children, youth and vulnerable adults.”
PROMISE TO PROTECT
Q & A
- When and why did the Attorney General's investigation begin?
According to the report: “On Sept. 21, 2018, the Michigan Department of Attorney General (AG), in partnership with the Michigan State Police (MSP), launched an investigation into clergy sexual abuse throughout the State of Michigan, focusing on the seven Dioceses of Michigan’s Catholic Church. One purpose of the investigation was to investigate whether criminal charges could be filed against those who allegedly engaged in potentially criminal conduct or those who failed to comply with a statutory obligation to report conduct involving minors. The other purpose of the investigation was to determine if the Archdiocese and the Dioceses were complying with their statutory obligation to report sexual abuse of minors.
“On Oct. 3, 2018, a search warrant was simultaneously executed on the Archdiocese and all six dioceses in order to seize any information and records each diocese had regarding reports of sexual abuse...It (the searches) lasted 8 hours and more than 220 boxes of documents were seized. In total, an estimated 1.5 million paper documents were seized.”
- Has the Diocese of Saginaw cooperated with the investigation?
Yes. Since the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s investigation began, the Diocese of Saginaw has turned over all requested documents and immediately reported any new allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct involving clergy to the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s report summary states: “All seven Dioceses have cooperated with the AG’s investigation.”
- Are the allegations in the report either credible or substantiated?
Not necessarily. The Attorney General’s report states, “The allegations are summarized here, and their inclusion does not reflect a determination by the Department that the allegations are credible or otherwise substantiated nor indicative of a crime.”
- What is the difference between a credible allegation and a substantiated allegation?
A credible allegation is an allegation with a “semblance of truth,” meaning it appears to be or could possibly be true. There is a presumption of innocence until and unless an individual is proven guilty. In comparison, a substantiated allegation is an allegation that is supported by sufficient evidence establishing reasonable grounds to believe that the abuse occurred.
- What is the difference between inconclusive, unsubstantiated and non-credible allegation?
An inconclusive allegation has been investigated by competent authorities, but the evidence does not indicate whether or not the allegation is true. This may be the result of an investigation with either little or with conflicting information.
An unsubstantiated allegation has been investigated by competent authorities and the resulting evidence does not corroborate it. An unsubstantiated allegation may be the conclusion of an investigation in which the evidence does not appear to show it to be true.
A non-credible allegation is determined on basic information not to have a semblance of truth, meaning it appears implausible to have occurred. For example, an allegation may be determined to be non-credible if the individual was not serving or present at the time the abuse was alleged to have taken place.
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Updated Safe Environment training aims to protect the vulnerable and empower the faithful
When a parish volunteer signs up to chaperone a field trip or serve at a youth event, Safe Environment training can seem like another box to check. However, the recently updated training, now expanded far beyond its original focus on child sexual abuse, has a much deeper purpose. It aims to equip ordinary Catholics to recognize warning signs, intervene early and help protect children, teens and vulnerable adults in every part of their lives.