TRAVERSE CITY — Catholic leaders hope releasing the names of local priests accused of sexually abusing children helps victims heal and puts the community on notice.

“It gives credibility to the victim survivors,” said Candace Neff, director of communications for the diocese. “It says to them … they were heard and we want them to know they’ve been heard.”

That’s why the Catholic Diocese of Gaylord named 10 clergymen — including Ronald Gronowski, James Holtz, Patrick Barrett, Lionel Harnish and Benedict Marciulionis, who all served in local churches — last week. The list also includes Raymond Pilarski, Terrence Raymond, Robert Gordon Smith, Laurus Rhode and Leo Olschaysken.

The complete listing comes more than 15 years after a diocese investigation into “credible and substantiated” sexual abuse allegations against each man. The list was published in the midst of a state attorney general’s investigation into such accusations at Michigan dioceses last month.

But Gaylord diocese officials chose not to publish several bits of related information, like which churches the priests served at and whether any of the priests ever faced criminal charges as a result of accusations.

Neff said Bishop Steven Raica, who leads the diocese, will consult with others on when, if ever, diocese officials will share more of the accused priests’ information.

Newspaper archives, obituaries and church documents confirm several priests served locally — Ronald Gronowski practiced at Immaculate Conception in Traverse City and James Holtz at St. Mary’s of the Woods in Kalkaska and St. Aloysius Parish in Fife Lake.

Gronowski and Holtz both resigned in 2002 after the allegations came to light.

Gronowski admitted to his sexual misconduct.

"I cannot express how profoundly sorry I am for any anguish this person has suffered from my actions," Gronowski said in a letter to parishioners announcing his resignation, according to a 2002 Associated Press article. "Nor can words share the depth of my sadness and grief for any embarrassment and pain caused to my own family, my brother priests, the diocese and our beloved Catholic Church."

Barrett, who also led prayer locally, denied the allegations in a letter to parishioners.

“I have absolutely no knowledge of any abuse at any time. Nothing,” Barrett wrote, according to a 2002 Record-Eagle article. “Such abuse is abhorrent. It is disgusting. I could not admit to any guilt and I feel whole and healthy within myself that it never happened.”

He, along with Harnish and Marciulionis, have since died.

Barrett first served as an assistant pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Traverse City, and from there moved to Mancelona, Bellaire, Lake Leelanau, Hannah, Karlin, Kalkaska, Fife Lake and Mapleton parishes.

Church records show Harnish practiced at St. Mary of the Woods in Kalkaska, while Marciulionis once served at Holy Rosary in Isadore, a ghost town north of Cedar in Leelanau County.

Diocese officials reviewed all priest files — accused or not — dating back to 1971, when the Catholic Diocese of Gaylord was established, according to Raica. The results were shared with prosecutors in the diocese’s 21 northern Michigan counties.

The attorney general’s office did not return calls for comment.

Some Catholics continue to follow the investigations closely, like Larry Inman, a state representative and member of the Christ the King Catholic Church in Acme.

“There is separation from church and government, but there’s no separation between the church and what’s right and what’s wrong,” Inman said. “I imagine if it was serious enough, they would be contacting local prosecutors and police.”

But the outcomes of those investigations are rarely publicized.

Neff did not know whether accusations ever translated to charges against the priests. None of the local priests’ names could be found in available court records.

“I think it would help the Catholic diocese if they were more open about it and, No. 2, if they can put more enforcement behind the accusations,” Inman said.

Catholic officials work with law enforcement and legislators to protect children and implement things like background checks and training for those employees and volunteers who work with children, Neff said.

“There’s always more we can do,” she said. “We’re trying to do the best we can.”

Neff pointed to current allegations that go back almost 30 years. She hopes there are no more.

She encourages any sexual abuse survivor to report it immediately.

Sexual abuse allegations involving clergy can be reported to victim assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at 989-705-9010. Victims also should call authorities.

Associate Editor/Digital Media Andy Taylor contributed to this report.

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