Robert Haener Sexual Abuse Allegations

Father Robert Haener was a former Catholic priest who was accused of psychologically and sexually abusing numerous underage boys during his ministry career, which included parish assignments and school roles. Decades after the abuse occurred, Haener was finally removed from ministry and laicized before he died in 2024. 

• Primary Entity Name: Robert Haener
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Robert Haener, Fr. Robert, Fr. Haener
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Principal
• Current Status: Deceased (2024)

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

Public Identification and Clergy Status

According to reports, Haener spent years abusing his victims in school settings. However, even though an investigation was conducted by multiple priests at the school in the late 1960s, nothing was done to prevent further harm to Haener’s victims. The following entities have since identified his sexual misconduct:

• The Archdiocese of Detroit, on June 10, 2019, via a public list of credibly accused priests
• The Vatican, in 2005, when finalizing the laicization process

These entities identified Haener due to substantiated sexual abuse allegations against him. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1957 in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Years in Active Ministry: 1957-2002 (roughly 45 years)

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (Detroit, Southgate, Erie, Allen Park, Madison Heights, and Temperance)

Restrictions: Restricted ministry from 1992 to 2002, then removed from ministry completely

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: 2005

Public Disclosure: 2019 in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1957 – St. Gerard in Detroit, MI

1970s – Parishes in Southgate and Erie

1986 – St. Anthony in Temperance

1992 – Placed on leave

Non-Church Assignments:

1960s – St. Frances Cabrini High School in Allen Park, MI, and Bishop Foley High School in Madison Heights, MI

1994-2002 – Hospice chaplain at Felician Sisters in Livonia

Known Allegations

Most of the sexual abuse allegations against Haener occurred while he was the principal of the two high schools in the 1960s and early 1970s. According to reports, Haener was notorious for inviting boys into his office, forcing them to kneel, and then rubbing himself against them. Several of Haener’s victims described his conduct as a reign of terror, when stories of his treatment of boys at the schools and two parishes were widespread. 

One of the most concerning aspects is how the church responded to the allegations of sexual abuse. Several unfamiliar priests entered the school and began interrogating roughly 30 boys. These boys were apparently told that they were defaming Haener and that it was a mortal sin to do so. These priests also demanded that the boys not tell their parents, as this would further spread rumors about Haener, who was a “nice man.”

As a result, nothing was done about the widespread sexual abuse committed by Haener in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead, Haener continued to serve in ministry roles until 1992, when he was restricted from certain assignments. However, he was allowed to serve as a hospice chaplain beginning in 1994. 

Eventually, Haener was fully removed from ministry in 2002. When victims learned of this change and saw the church’s statements, many of them felt it wasn’t enough to address the extent of the priest’s crimes. 

Summary: Father Robert Haener sexually abused many boys while serving as a principal at two high schools, but nothing was done after several priests interrogated the boys at the school to address the “rumors” about Haener’s conduct. 

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:

• St. Frances Cabrini High School
• Bishop Foley High School
• Felician Sisters in Livonia

Institutional Actions and Review

The church’s initial response to the allegations of abuse was very aggressive. Multiple unfamiliar priests were sent to the school to pull roughly 30 boys out of their sessions to interrogate them about the “rumors” surrounding Robert Haener. According to the victims, these interviews were essentially veiled threats where the priests insisted that the boys were defaming the accused priest. The priests also demanded that the boys remain silent to prevent further spread of rumors, including not telling their parents. 

Following this “investigation,” no action was taken against Haener to prevent further misconduct. In 1992, the church removed Haener from his parish assignment. He was restricted from full ministry at this time and placed on leave as a result of complaints about sexual abuse. 

In 1994, Haener began working as a hospice chaplain in Livonia. In 2002, the Archdiocese of Detroit permanently removed Haener from ministry. The Vatican affirmed this decision by laicizing him in 2005, thereby severing all ties to the Catholic Church and ensuring that Haener could never present himself as a priest again. 

Haener was named in the Archdiocese of Detroit’s list of credibly accused Michigan priests in 2019. He passed away in 2024. 

Timeline

1957 – Ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit

1957-1992 – Assigned to various parishes and high schools

1960s and early 1970s – Served as a principal at St. Frances Cabrini and Bishop Foley, where he sexually abused many boys

Late 1960s – Several priests “investigate” the accusations by questioning 30 boys and demanding the end of the spread of “rumors”

1992 – Haener is placed on leave and restricted from the ministry

1994 – Haener is appointed the hospice chaplain at Felician Sisters in Livonia

2002 – The Archdiocese of Detroit removed Haener from ministry

2019 – Haener was identified in the list of credibly accused priests in the Archdiocese of Detroit

2024 – Haener died

Speak With an Attorney

Navigating a sexual abuse claim can be a challenging process, especially when you are dealing with large entities like the Catholic Church. If you have suffered from clergy abuse in Michigan, the Injury Lawyer Team will stand by your side as you pursue justice and fair compensation for legal damages. 

Together, we can hold the at-fault parties accountable, whether that is a diocese or an individual priest. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer from our firm. 

Sources

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

• A profile of Robert Haener on Bishop Accountability’s website
• A press release from the Detroit Free Press about the church’s zero-tolerance policy against abusive priests
• A press release from the Detroit Free Press about the church’s investigation of the school abuse allegations
• A history of the archbishops in Detroit
• The list of credibly accused priests in the Archdiocese of 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.