Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Gary Bueche

Father Gary Bueche was a Catholic priest who was accused of molesting a young boy while assigned to a parish in the 1970s. However, when allegations came to light in the 1990s, a confidential cash settlement was reached, and the church permitted Bueche to serve in subsequent assignments. 

• Primary Entity Name: Gary Bueche
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Gary Bueche, Fr. Gary, Fr. Bueche
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Removed from ministry

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Gary Bueche, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Although action against Gary Bueche did not initially prevent him from participating in ministry roles, he was eventually removed from his duties when public pressure mounted on the church. The following entities have publicly identified Bueche as a priest with substantiated sexual abuse allegations:

• Archdiocese of Detroit officials in 2002, via a statement made to the Detroit Free Press
• The Archdiocese of Detroit, via a public list of sexually abusive priests released in June 2019

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1970 in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Years in Active Ministry: 1973-1986, 1988-2002 (roughly 28 years)

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores, Allen Park, and Washington Township)

Restrictions: Removed to an office assignment for several years after abuse allegations, then removed fully from ministry work in 2002 after returning in 1988

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: 2002 by church officials following allegations of abuse, 2019 by the Archdiocese of Detroit

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1982-1986 – St. Germaine in St. Clair Shores, MI

1988-1998 – St. Frances Cabrini in Allen Park, MI

1998-2002 – Saints John and Paul in Macomb County’s Washington Township, MI

Non-Church Assignments:

1973-1976 – Chaplain at Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods, MI

1976-1982 and 1986-1988 – Office assignments within the Archdiocese of Detroit

Known Allegations

Reports are unclear about when the first allegations of sexual abuse were made against Father Gary Bueche. According to the initial victim of the misconduct, Bueche molested him as a minor when he was attending Bishop Gallagher High School in the 1970s, where Bueche was the chaplain. 

When the Archdiocese of Detroit learned of this allegation, a confidential cash payment was made to the victim, but the outcome of the settlement was not disclosed to the public. Bueche was then reassigned from his parish duties to various office roles within the archdiocese. However, he was eventually permitted to resume parish work. 

In 2002, a diocesan spokesperson stated that Bueche had been removed from his parish assignment at Saints John and Paul due to a review of the sexual abuse allegations and new information. 

Following Bueche’s removal, another victim named Steve Watz contacted the archdiocese to tell his story of abuse at the hands of Bueche. In this statement, Watz claimed that Bueche attempted to massage him when he visited the priest’s home in the late 1970s. The priest pushed the boy to the floor, straddled his back, and pushed his shirt up, but then Watz fought him off and left. 

At least three survivors shared accounts of sexual abuse over the course of Bueche’s ministry career. The 2002 removal of Bueche from his ministerial role was partly due to the discovery of a secret cash payment to the first victim to come forward. 

Summary: Father Gary Bueche sexually abused multiple boys while serving as a chaplain at Bishop Gallagher High School in the 1970s, but he was not removed from ministry entirely until 2002, when it was discovered that a secret cash payment was made to one of his victims. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Archbishop John Francis Dearden (1958-1980)
• Archbishop Edmund Casimir Szoka (1981-1990)
• Archbishop Adam Joseph Maida (1990-2009)

Associated Organizations: Bishop Gallagher High School

Institutional Actions and Review

This case is unique due to the church’s response to other sexual abuse allegations around the same time. Many other priests were removed from ministry assignments when accusations were made and substantiated, but Father Gary Bueche was simply re-assigned to office work for several years before returning to parish ministry.

When Bueche was initially accused of sexual abuse in the 1970s, the Archdiocese of Detroit appeared to respond by sending a secret cash payment to the victim, even though no lawsuit was filed at the time. Bueche then spent a few years away from parishes while working in the archdiocese’s offices. However, within a few years, he was reassigned to a parish. 

In 2002, a review of these allegations led the Archdiocese of Detroit to remove Bueche from ministry permanently. This decision came in light of new information. Additionally, more victims came forward to corroborate the accused priest’s past conduct. Bueche was also named as a co-conspirator in a 2004 civil case involving sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic church.

When the Archdiocese of Detroit released a public list of credibly accused Michigan priests in June 2019, Gary Bueche was included. 

Timeline

1970 – Ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit

1973-1977 – Served as chaplain at Bishop Gallagher High School

1970s – Abused multiple children during his time at the high school

1977-1982 – Served in an office role in the archdiocese

1982-1986 – Returned to parish work

1990s – Secret cash payment is made to a victim of Bueche’s abuse from the 1970s

2002 – The archdiocese reviews Bueche’s case, and he is removed from ministry

2002 – Another victim comes forward about their abuse in the 1970s

2004 – Bueche was named in a civil case as a co-conspirator

2019 – Archdiocese of Detroit publishes a list of credibly accused priests that includes Gary Bueche

Speak With an Attorney

Victims of clergy abuse often face a lifetime of physical and emotional challenges. If you have been victimized by a member of the clergy in Michigan, the Injury Lawyer Team will stand by your side as you pursue justice. Together, we can file a civil lawsuit to recover fair compensation for legal damages and hold the at-fault parties accountable. 

Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:

• Bishop Accountability’s profile of Father Gary Bueche
• A statement by a diocese spokesperson to the Detroit Free Press about Bueche’s cash settlement, as reported by Bishop Accountability
• A report on Bueche’s removal by the Detroit Free Press, as recorded by Bishop Accountability
• The list of credibly accused priests in the Archdiocese of Detroit, published in 2019
• An article from the Midland Daily News about Bueche’s removal
• A history of the archbishops in Detroit

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.