TRAVERSE CITY — The names of 10 former northern Michigan priests — eight dead — came to light this month when the state began an investigation of sexual abuse allegations in churches.
A webpage posted Friday on the Catholic Diocese of Gaylord website lists eight diocese priests — Patrick Barrett, Ronald Gronowski, Lionel Harnish, James Holtz, Benedict Marciulionis, Raymond Pilarski, Terrence Raymond and Robert Gordon Smith — who faced “credible and substantiated” allegations of sexually abusing children. Two more — Laurus Rhode and Leo Olschaysken — face similar accusations.
The list only includes priests’ names, when they left the priesthood and, in some instances, their date of death. Diocese officials refused to share where each priest served within the diocese, which covers 21 northern Michigan counties.
“We’re trying to be as thorough and complete as we can be,” said Candace Neff, Gaylord diocese director of communications. “We want it to be accurate.”
This comes on the heels of the state attorney general announcing last month a statewide look at dioceses, searching for any reports of child sexual abuse by priests.
The diocese of Gaylord completed its own review in 2002 of its priests dating back to 1971, reporting the results to county prosecutors. Officials said they previously released that information publicly.
The listing includes at least two known priests who served in the region — Patrick Barrett and James Holtz.
Barrett served at St. Joseph Catholic Church on the Old Mission Peninsula and was removed in 2002 after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a minor about 30 years prior. He refuted the allegations before he died in 2006.
Holtz was removed from St. Mary of the Woods in Kalkaska in 2002 after another sexual abuse investigation.
The assignments for the other priests are not immediately known.
Neff did not know whether officials would in the future confirm the priests’ assignments. Roman Catholic bishops met this week to discuss child sexual abuse concerns and “best practices” for responding, she said.
Any allegations of sexual abuse by clergy should be reported to victim assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at 989-705-9010, the page states. Victims also should call authorities.
Officials at local churches, including Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Michael Catholic Church either directed comment to diocese officials or could not be reached for comment.
It did not appear that any of the priests named had been charged in either 86th District or 13th Circuit Courts.
Review the list at www.dioceseofgaylord.org.
