Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Edward Theodore Olszewski

This page covers Father Edward Theodore Olszewski’s assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s work representing survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Edward Theodore Olszewski
• Common Variations / Aliases: Edward Olszewski, Fr. Edward Olszewski, Father Edward Olszewski, Reverend Edward Olszewski, Edward T. Olszewski, Fr. Edward T. Olszewski, Father Edward T. Olszewski, Reverend Edward T. Olszewski
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Diocesan priest
• Current Status: Removed from ministry

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Edward Theodore Olszewski was publicly identified as a credibly and criminally accused priest by Catholic Church authorities through diocesan abuse disclosure records and formal institutional proceedings, including:

• Archdiocese of Detroit
• Archdiocese of Miami
• Wayne County Circuit Court
• Michigan appellate courts
• Florida civil courts

As a result of these proceedings, he was criminally prosecuted in Michigan and found guilty by a jury on multiple counts of sexual abuse involving a minor, with the case later returning to the appellate courts on procedural grounds. 

He was removed from active ministry, and the allegations and legal actions against him remain part of the permanent public record through court decisions and diocesan disclosures.

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Detroit, Wayne County Circuit Court, Michigan appellate courts, Florida civil courts
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of child sexual abuse identified through internal Church review, criminal prosecution resulting in jury convictions in Michigan, and related civil litigation.

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1960

Years in Active Ministry: 1960–2002

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (MI), Archdiocese of Miami (FL)

Restrictions: Removed from active ministry

Criminal Convictions: Convicted by a Michigan jury in December 2002 on multiple counts of indecent liberties involving a minor

Second Set of Charges: Additional charges of sodomy were brought in the same Michigan prosecution and resulted in not-guilty verdicts

Release from Prison: Sentencing resulted in probation

Died: No publicly confirmed record establishing death

Public Disclosure: Identified through Archdiocese of Detroit abuse disclosures and through criminal and civil court records in Michigan and Florida

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Cecilia Parish – Detroit, MI (early 1970s)
• Catholic parish in Key Largo – Miami, FL (mid-1970s to March 2002)

Publicly available church personnel records from earlier decades are limited, and not all parish assignments were disclosed or preserved in sources released to the public, which restricts the ability to provide a complete parish-by-parish timeline.

Known Allegations

Father Edward Theodore Olszewski was the subject of sexual abuse allegations involving minors that spanned multiple years of his clerical service. 

According to criminal and civil court filings, the alleged misconduct began in the early 1970s while he was serving in parish ministry in Detroit, where complaints described abuse occurring in settings connected to his role as a Catholic priest. The allegations later extended to his years of service in Florida after his transfer to the Archdiocese of Miami.

The most significant legal action arose in Michigan, where prosecutors filed criminal charges in Wayne County Circuit Court. In December 2002, a jury found Olszewski guilty on multiple counts of indecent liberties involving a minor, while returning not-guilty verdicts on additional charges in the same trial. 

He was sentenced by the court, and the case later proceeded through the Michigan appellate courts on procedural issues.

Separately, civil lawsuits were filed in Florida state courts, naming Olszewski and related Church entities. Those cases addressed alleged abuse during his Florida ministry but were resolved on jurisdictional grounds, without a trial or factual determination on liability. 

During this period, Church authorities removed him from active ministry. The allegations and related legal actions are documented through court records and diocesan disclosures and remain part of the public record.

Summary: Edward Theodore Olszewski was criminally convicted in Michigan for sexual abuse involving a minor, with additional credible allegations documented across his years of ministry in Detroit and later in Florida.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Cardinal John Francis Dearden – Archdiocese of Detroit
• Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll – Archdiocese of Miami
• Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy – Archdiocese of Miami
• Archbishop John Clement Favalora – Archdiocese of Miami

Institutional Actions and Review

Public reporting and diocesan records indicate that allegations concerning Father Edward Theodore Olszewski came to the attention of Church authorities no later than early 2002, while he was serving under the Archdiocese of Miami. 

Following notification of the allegations, Church officials removed him from active ministry, and he resigned from parish duties shortly thereafter.

Records show that Father Olszewski had previously been transferred from the Archdiocese of Detroit to the Archdiocese of Miami decades earlier. Publicly available materials do not establish what information, if any, regarding concerns or complaints was shared between dioceses at the time of that transfer. 

Church personnel files from earlier periods have not been fully released, limiting insight into whether prior internal complaints existed.

His name later appeared in official abuse disclosure materials, including the list of accused clergy issued by the Archdiocese of Detroit, reflecting a determination that the allegations were deemed credible following internal review. 

Public disclosure occurred years after the alleged misconduct, as part of broader clergy abuse reviews rather than immediately at the time of the transfer or initial service.

Timeline

1960 — Ordained as a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit

Early 1970s — Assigned to St. Cecilia Parish in Detroit, Michigan

Early 1970s — Alleged sexual abuse of minors reported to have begun during his service in Detroit

Mid-1970s — Transferred from the Archdiocese of Detroit to the Archdiocese of Miami

Mid-1970s to March 2002 — Served in parish ministry in Key Largo, Florida, under the Archdiocese of Miami

1970s to later years — Alleged abuse reported to have continued after his transfer to Florida

Early 2002 — Allegations brought to the attention of Church authorities while he was serving in Florida

Spring 2002 — Removed from active ministry by the Archdiocese of Miami and resigned from parish duties

August 2002 — Criminal charges filed against him in Wayne County Circuit Court, Michigan

December 2002 — Convicted by a Michigan jury on multiple counts of indecent liberties involving a minor; additional charges resulted in not-guilty verdicts

Early 2000s (post-2002) — Civil lawsuits filed in Florida state courts related to alleged abuse

2019 — Publicly listed by the Archdiocese of Detroit in clergy abuse disclosure materials following internal review

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of clergy abuse involving Father Edward Theodore Olszewski or other Catholic priests in Michigan may still be able to pursue accountability. Our sexual abuse attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team provide discreet, survivor-focused representation statewide.

Reach out to speak privately with a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer. We are here to listen, explain your legal options, and help you take informed steps toward justice.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on public records, official Church disclosures, court decisions, and contemporaneous reporting, including the following sources:

• Archdiocese of Detroit clergy abuse disclosure records, which publicly list Father Edward Theodore Olszewski, following internal review and determination of credible allegations.
• A Michigan appellate court opinion documenting the criminal proceedings, jury verdicts, and subsequent procedural history arising from charges filed against Olszewski in Wayne County.
• Contemporaneous reporting by the Los Angeles Times (December 2002), covering the criminal trial, convictions, and sentencing related to the Michigan prosecution.
• BishopAccountability.org, which compiles diocesan disclosures, court records, and media reporting related to clergy abuse cases involving Father Edward Theodore Olszewski.

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

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.