Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Frank Mullen

This page documents Frank Mullen’s clerical role within the Archdiocese of Detroit, the publicly reported allegations of sexual abuse made against him, and the institutional actions taken by Church authorities, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s work on clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Frank Mullen
• Common Variations / Aliases: Deacon Frank Mullen
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Current Status: Dismissed from the clerical state, laicized.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Frank Mullen was publicly identified by the Archdiocese of Detroit as a member of the clergy against whom a credible allegation of sexual abuse was reported. Following that determination, diocesan authorities removed him from ministry and imposed restrictions that barred him from performing clerical duties.

He was not criminally convicted, but Church records indicate that he was later laicized and publicly disclosed by the Archdiocese as removed from ministry following its internal review.

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Detroit
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegation of sexual abuse identified through internal Church review, resulting in removal from ministry and laicization

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: Not publicly disclosed (ordained prior to December 1993)

Years in Active Ministry: Start date not publicly disclosed; active until at least December 3, 1993

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit, MI; Most Holy Trinity Parish, Detroit, MI; Holy Redeemer Parish Elementary School, Detroit, MI

Restrictions: Placed on leave and removed from ministry in December 1993

Laicization: Laicized by the Holy See, with the action reflected in the Archdiocese of Detroit records by October 2009

Public Disclosure: Publicly disclosed by the Archdiocese of Detroit through its official list of clergy credibly accused of abuse, first released in June 2019

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports): 

Most Holy Trinity Parish – Detroit, MI (date range not publicly specified)

Publicly available Archdiocese disclosures indicate that Frank Mullen served in diaconal ministry under the authority of the Archdiocese of Detroit during the early 1990s. His documented parish assignment confirms that he was functioning as a Catholic deacon prior to being placed on leave in December 1993.

While specific parish affiliations have been identified, the Archdiocese has not released a complete diaconal assignment history with exact dates or role descriptions. As a result, publicly available records establish where Mullen served, but do not provide a full chronological account of his ministry activities.

Non-Church Assignments: Holy Redeemer Parish Elementary School – Detroit, MI (served in a school setting; specific title and date range not publicly specified)

Public summaries reference Mullen’s involvement in a school setting associated with parish operations, indicating additional access to minors beyond parish worship activities. However, no formal employment title, duration of service, or expanded institutional role has been publicly detailed in Archdiocesan records.

Known Allegations

Public records indicate that Frank Mullen, a former deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit, was placed on leave in December 1993 following a complaint alleging the sexual abuse of a minor that had occurred several years earlier while he was serving in ministry roles. 

The complaint was received and examined by Church authorities, who determined it met the Archdiocese’s standards for being deemed credible under its internal review procedures. 

The allegations are understood to have arisen from interactions in settings where he had contact with minors, including at Most Holy Trinity Parish and in connection with Holy Redeemer Parish Elementary School, though the publicly released information does not specify a single clearly documented location tied to specific dates. 

Church authorities have not released detailed timelines of the alleged misconduct, and there is no public record of multiple, distinct allegations separate from the one complaint that led to his removal from ministry. 

Diocesan records subsequently reflect that he was laicized by the Holy See and listed with other clergy members determined to have credible allegations against them on the Archdiocese’s 2019 disclosure list. 

No criminal conviction is publicly reported, and the allegation remains a matter of institutional review and disclosure rather than a criminal adjudication.

Summary: Frank Mullen was identified as the subject of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by the Archdiocese of Detroit, which led to his removal from ministry and subsequent laicization by the Holy See following Church review.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Cardinal Adam J. Maida — Archbishop of Detroit (1990–2009)

Institutional Actions and Review

Public records indicate that Church authorities within the Archdiocese of Detroit were first notified of an allegation involving Frank Mullen by December 1993, at which time a complaint alleging sexual abuse of a minor was received. 

Following that notification, diocesan officials placed Mullen on leave and removed him from active ministry, restricting him from performing clerical duties.

There is no publicly available documentation showing that Mullen was reassigned to another parish or ministry role after the allegation was reported. Public disclosures do not indicate that information regarding the allegation was shared in connection with transfers to other assignments, and no subsequent placements have been identified in Archdiocesan records.

Available summaries do not reference earlier complaints or a documented history of prior allegations before the matter that resulted in his removal in December 1993. Church disclosures likewise do not detail internal investigative steps beyond confirming that the allegation was reviewed under diocesan procedures.

Public identification did not occur at the time of the initial notification. Instead, Mullen’s status became publicly known years later, when the Archdiocese of Detroit released its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse as part of a broader disclosure initiative. 

His inclusion on that list reflects a later public acknowledgment following internal review rather than immediate disclosure after the initial report.

Timeline

Early 1990s — Served in diaconal ministry under the Archdiocese of Detroit

Prior to December 3, 1993 — Alleged sexual abuse of a minor reportedly occurred while Mullen was serving in ministry roles with access to minors

December 1993 — The Archdiocese of Detroit received a complaint alleging sexual abuse of a minor; Mullen was placed on leave and removed from ministry at that time

December 3, 1993 — Restrictions imposed, barring him from performing clerical duties; no reassignment documented following removal

October 2009 — Dismissed from the clerical state (laicized) by the Holy See, as reflected in Archdiocese of Detroit records

June 2019 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Detroit on its official disclosure list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse following institutional review

Speak With an Attorney

Individuals who believe they were harmed by Frank Mullen or another Catholic clergy member in Michigan may be entitled to pursue legal action. Here at Injury Lawyer Team, we assist survivors statewide and prioritize confidential, survivor-focused representation.

Contact a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer to discuss your situation and learn more about your legal options. We are available to answer questions and guide you through the process.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reports documented through institutional review and independent reporting, including the following:

• The Archdiocese of Detroit’s official disclosure of clergy credibly accused of abuse, published through its Protect AOD initiative, lists Frank Mullen among clergy members identified following internal review and public acknowledgment of allegations by diocesan authorities.
• The ProPublica Credibly Accused database, which preserves historical snapshots of diocesan disclosures nationwide, includes records associated with the Archdiocese of Detroit that reflect determinations made by Church leadership.
• The BishopAccountability.org profile for Frank Mullen aggregates Archdiocese materials, public disclosures, and media references documenting his clerical status, restrictions, and removal from ministry following reported allegations.
• Additional context is provided by the ConsumerSafety.org list of accused priests, which compiles publicly documented allegations and disclosures involving clergy from the Archdiocese of Detroit, including Frank Mullen.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.