Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Patrick J. Barrett

This page outlines the documented assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Fr. Patrick J. Barrett, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Patrick J. Barrett
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Patrick J. Barrett, Fr. Patrick Barrett, Patrick Barrett
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic Priest, Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased

This page concerns Fr. Patrick J. Barrett, associated with the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, and not other clergy with similar names.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Patrick J. Barrett was publicly identified as a Catholic priest with a credible and substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by Church authorities in Michigan. His name appears on the Diocese of Gaylord’s official list of clergy against whom allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been deemed credible following internal review.

According to publicly released diocesan summaries, the Diocese determined that an allegation reported in 2002 met the Church’s standard for credibility. As a result, Fr. Barrett was permanently removed from public ministry. Although no criminal prosecution occurred, Church authorities concluded that the allegation warranted permanent restriction from priestly duties. Fr. Barrett remained barred from public ministry until his death in 2006.

Public disclosure of the allegation occurred years later, when the Diocese of Gaylord released its list of clergy with credible allegations as part of broader transparency efforts.

Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Gaylord (Michigan)

Reason for Listing: Credible and substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor following internal diocesan review

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1959
• Years in Active Ministry: 1959–2002
• Locations Where He Served: Michigan, including areas within the territory now covered by the Diocese of Gaylord and predecessor diocesan structures
• Restrictions: Permanently removed from public ministry and barred from priestly duties involving the public
• Removal / Leave: Placed on administrative leave and permanently removed from ministry in 2002
• Laicization: No public record indicating laicization; permanent ministerial restrictions imposed instead
• Died: 2006
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: 2018 (Diocese of Gaylord)

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Gaylord (Michigan)

Publicly available records indicate that Fr. Patrick J. Barrett served as a Catholic priest in Michigan for several decades following his ordination in 1959. His ministry took place within the geographic territory that later became the Diocese of Gaylord, established in 1973.

The Diocese has not released a complete parish-by-parish assignment history with exact dates for Fr. Barrett’s service. Public disclosures confirm that his role included routine parish responsibilities typical of a diocesan priest, such as pastoral care, sacramental duties, and interactions with parish families and children.

Parish and Ministry Assignments (as documented in public disclosures):

• Parish ministry within the territory of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan
• Active service spanning the 1960s through the early 2000s

These parish contexts establish the relevant settings for the reported allegations. The Diocese’s list includes clergy regardless of whether the alleged misconduct occurred within the Diocese or elsewhere.

Non-Church Assignments: No publicly documented non-parish assignments (such as schools, hospitals, or external youth organizations) have been identified in available diocesan disclosures.

Fr. Barrett did not hold any parish assignment after his removal from public ministry in 2002.

Known Allegations

Fr. Patrick J. Barrett was the subject of allegations of sexual abuse of minors that were formally reported to Church authorities in 2002. According to diocesan disclosures and publicly available summaries, the alleged abuse was reported to have occurred approximately 30 years earlier, placing the alleged misconduct in the late 1960s and early 1970s, while Fr. Barrett was serving in parish ministry in Michigan.

Public summaries of the Diocese’s review indicate that more than one related allegation was evaluated as part of the internal investigative process. Survivor reporting described inappropriate sexual contact involving minors. Some survivors later stated that disclosures were made to clergy before 2002, but no formal diocesan action was taken at that time.

Following its investigation, the Diocese of Gaylord determined that the allegations met the Church’s standard for credibility and substantiation. No public court records indicate that criminal charges were filed in connection with the allegations.

Summary: Church authorities determined that Fr. Patrick J. Barrett was credibly accused of sexually abusing minors, leading to his permanent removal from public ministry.

Overseeing Authority During Key Periods:

• Diocesan leadership of the Diocese of Gaylord
• Predecessor diocesan authorities during earlier years of service

Associated Organizations: Catholic parish settings within the Diocese of Gaylord

Legal / Advocacy Bodies Referenced:

• Diocesan investigative review processes
• Clergy abuse survivor advocacy and accountability reporting

Institutional Actions and Review

Public disclosures indicate that the Diocese of Gaylord was formally notified of allegations involving Fr. Patrick J. Barrett in 2002, when a survivor submitted a written complaint alleging sexual abuse that occurred decades earlier. The Diocese initiated an internal investigation shortly thereafter.

Following its review, diocesan authorities determined that the allegations were credible. Fr. Barrett was placed on administrative leave and subsequently permanently removed from public ministry in 2002. His diocesan faculties were revoked, and he was prohibited from exercising priestly duties.

Public reports indicate that Church authorities communicated with civil authorities regarding the allegation. No criminal prosecution resulted.

Public reports also describe communications between diocesan leadership and Vatican authorities concerning Fr. Barrett’s status. Rather than pursuing laicization through a canonical trial, Church authorities imposed permanent ministerial restrictions that removed him from public ministry without formally laicizing him.

Public disclosure of the allegation did not occur at the time of removal. Fr. Barrett’s name was released years later when the Diocese of Gaylord published its list of clergy with credible allegations as part of broader transparency initiatives, including the list of accused clergy in Michigan.

Timeline

1959 — Ordained as a Catholic priest

1959–2002 — Served in parish ministry in Michigan within the territory of the Diocese of Gaylord

Late 1960s–Early 1970s — Alleged sexual abuse reportedly occurred

2002 — Allegation formally reported to the Diocese of Gaylord; internal review initiated

2002 — Permanently removed from public ministry and barred from priestly duties

2006 — Died

2018 — Publicly listed by the Diocese of Gaylord as having a credible and substantiated allegation

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. Patrick J. Barrett or any Catholic clergy member in Michigan, you may still have legal options. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse across the state.

Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse attorney. We are here to help you understand your rights and pursue accountability.

Sources and Public Records

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

• The Michigan Attorney General’s Report on the Diocese of Gaylord, which documents findings related to clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Gaylord and identifies clergy members determined to have credible and substantiated allegations following review.
• The Diocese of Gaylord’s official list of clergy with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, where Fr. Patrick J. Barrett is identified as having a credible and substantiated allegation and having been permanently removed from public ministry.
• Public documentation and case summaries compiled by BishopAccountability.org, a clergy abuse accountability organization that aggregates diocesan disclosures, public records, and survivor reporting related to allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

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.