Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Joseph S. Skelton Jr.

This page documents the publicly reported sexual abuse allegations involving Joseph S. Skelton Jr., the criminal and civil legal proceedings that followed, and the institutional actions taken against him, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s ongoing representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Joseph S. Skelton Jr.
• Common Variations / Aliases: Joseph Skelton, Joseph Skelton Jr., Brother Joseph Skelton, Father Joseph Skelton, Seminarian Joseph Skelton
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic seminarian
• Current Status: Barred from ministry by the Archdiocese of Detroit

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Joseph S. Skelton Jr. is a former Catholic seminarian who was publicly identified by the Archdiocese of Detroit in connection with sexual abuse allegations. His identification stems from criminal proceedings in Michigan and later civil litigation, which brought his conduct to public attention and prompted formal acknowledgment by Church authorities.

The Archdiocese issued a formal public statement outlining his dismissal from seminary, his prosecution by civil authorities, and the decision to deny him faculties and prohibit him from exercising public ministry within the Archdiocese of Detroit.

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Detroit
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, supported by criminal prosecution and subsequent civil legal proceedings

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 2001 (in the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines)

Years in Active Ministry: Not fully disclosed in public records (occurred in the Philippines)

Locations Where He Served: Philippines (Diocese of Tagbilaran); no authorized ministry in the US

Restrictions: Denied faculties by the Archdiocese of Detroit and barred from public ministry

Criminal Convictions: Convicted in Wayne County, Michigan, for sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy committed while he was a seminarian in 1988

Second Set of Charges: Named in a 2008 civil lawsuit in Washington, DC, alleging sexual abuse of a minor during the mid-1980s; the case was resolved through a monetary settlement

Public Disclosure: Publicly disclosed through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, and a formal public statement issued by the Archdiocese of Detroit

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Detroit (as seminarian); later ordained in the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• No parish assignments in the US
• Philippines (Diocese of Tagbilaran)

Non-Church Assignments: 

• Seminarian formation roles associated with St. John Provincial Seminary prior to his dismissal

Known Allegations

Publicly documented allegations against Joseph S. Skelton Jr. involve sexual abuse committed during the mid-1980s, while he was a Catholic seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

The earliest known allegation arose in Michigan, where the abuse was reported to have occurred in a seminary-related context and involved a minor male victim. Civil authorities investigated the report, resulting in criminal proceedings that culminated in Skelton’s 1988 conviction, bringing the allegation into the public record and prompting his dismissal from seminary.

A separate allegation later emerged through civil litigation filed in Washington, DC, alleging sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy during the summer of 1984. That case was filed in Washington because the alleged abuse was reported to have occurred there, not because Skelton held a parish assignment or exercised ministry in the district. The lawsuit was resolved through a monetary settlement by the Archdiocese of Washington.

Taken together, the public record reflects multiple allegations reported across different jurisdictions during the same general period, all arising from Skelton’s time as a seminarian.

Church authorities treated the allegations as credible, publicly acknowledged his history, and imposed permanent restrictions on his ability to minister within the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Summary: Multiple credible allegations place the abuse in the mid-1980s during Joseph S. Skelton Jr.’s time as a seminarian, leading to a 1988 criminal conviction in Michigan, later civil litigation in Washington, DC, and permanent ministerial restrictions by Church authorities.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Edmund C. Szoka — Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Donald W. Wuerl — Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington
• Leopoldo S. Tumulak — Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran

Institutional Actions and Review

Church authorities associated with Joseph S. Skelton Jr. became aware of misconduct during the 1980s, while he was enrolled as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Following the emergence of abuse allegations and the involvement of civil authorities, Skelton was dismissed from seminary formation, ending his path toward ordination within the archdiocese. 

The matter proceeded through the criminal justice system, resulting in a conviction in 1988, after which he held no clerical assignment or ministerial role in Detroit.

Despite his dismissal, Skelton later pursued ordination outside the US, and Church records indicate that the Archdiocese of Detroit did not grant him faculties and prohibited him from exercising public ministry within its jurisdiction. The archdiocese has stated that he would not be permitted to function as a priest there under any circumstances. 

There is no public documentation showing that Detroit approved, facilitated, or formally confirmed his suitability for ministry elsewhere, and no evidence that his prior history was affirmatively endorsed during any transfer or ordination process abroad.

Public disclosure of Skelton’s history occurred years later, through a combination of criminal court records, civil litigation, and a formal public statement issued by the Archdiocese of Detroit. His name was included on the archdiocese’s public list of Michigan clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse, addressing his dismissal, prosecution, and ministerial restrictions.

Timeline

Summer 1984 — Alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy reported to have occurred in Washington, DC, while Joseph S. Skelton Jr. was a Catholic seminarian.

Mid-1980s — Additional sexual abuse alleged to have occurred in Michigan during Skelton’s time as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

1988 — Criminal case brought in Wayne County, Michigan; Skelton pleaded guilty and was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor.

1988 — Dismissed from seminary following the criminal proceedings.

2001 — Ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Philippines.

2001–unknown — Served in parish ministry in the Philippines; no authorized assignments in the US.

2008 — Civil lawsuit filed in Washington, DC, alleging sexual abuse during the summer of 1984.

October 2009 — Washington, DC civil case resolved through a monetary settlement by the Archdiocese of Washington.

2015 — Public disclosure by the Archdiocese of Detroit, including a formal statement outlining Skelton’s dismissal, criminal conviction, denial of faculties, and inclusion on the archdiocese’s public list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse.

Speak With an Attorney

If you experienced sexual abuse involving Joseph S. Skelton Jr. or another individual connected to a Catholic institution in Michigan, you may have legal options. Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors statewide and focuses on accountability for both individuals and institutions. 

You can speak privately with a Michigan clergy abuse attorney who understands the nature of these cases and can explain your options at your own pace.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on publicly available records, official Church disclosures, investigative journalism, and compiled accountability reporting, including the following sources:

• A formal public statement issued by the Archdiocese of Detroit addressing Joseph S. Skelton Jr.’s dismissal from seminary, references to criminal proceedings in Michigan, and the archdiocese’s decision to deny him faculties and prohibit public ministry.
• An Associated Press investigative report examining Skelton’s case in the broader context of clergy abuse accountability and cross-border ministry, including how his history became publicly known.
• BishopAccountability’s profile entry for Joseph Skelton, which compiles publicly reported case details, including the Michigan conviction history and later civil litigation references.
• The Archdiocese of Detroit’s publicly released list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse, which includes disclosures made as part of the archdiocese’s transparency efforts.

No criminal conviction is stated unless it is explicitly described in public court records, reliable reporting, 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.