Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Raymond Charles Cotter

This page is an overview of Raymond Charles Cotter’s clerical assignments, credible allegations of sexual abuse, and the institutional actions taken in response, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Raymond Charles Cotter
• Common Variations / Aliases: Raymond Cotter, Raymond C. Cotter, Father Raymond Cotter, Fr. Raymond Cotter
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish priest
• Current Status: Retired

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Raymond Charles Cotter was publicly identified as a clergy member credibly accused of sexual misconduct involving an adult woman through official disclosures and investigative findings, including publications issued by

• The Michigan Attorney General
• The Diocese of Gaylord

After the allegation was reviewed and described as substantiated for internal Church purposes, Cotter was placed under ministerial restrictions, removed from presiding at public celebrations of Mass, and limited to private sacramental ministry by the Diocese of Gaylord.

• Entity that Listed Him: Michigan Attorney General (2024 report); Diocese of Gaylord
• Reason for Listing: Civil allegation involving sexual misconduct with an adult woman while acting in a clerical and counseling role

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1986

Years in Active Ministry: 1986–2024

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Gaylord; Archdiocese of Anchorage; Diocese of Marquette

Restrictions: Restricted from presiding at public celebrations of Mass

Criminal Convictions: None reported

Laicization: No public record of laicization

Public Disclosure: Michigan Attorney General report and Diocese of Gaylord statements

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Diocese of Gaylord

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• Various parish assignments – Diocese of Gaylord, MI (1986-1995)
• Temporary ministerial service – Archdiocese of Anchorage, AK (1995–1996)
• St. Joseph Parish – Ishpeming, MI (1997–1997)
• St. Peter Cathedral – Marquette, MI (1998–1998)
• Holy Family Parish – Gladstone, MI (1998–2001)

Non-Church Assignments: Provided marriage and individual pastoral counseling to parishioners as part of his clerical duties.

Known Allegations

According to findings summarized in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation report, an allegation of sexual misconduct involving Father Raymond Charles Cotter centers on events that allegedly occurred in the early 1990s while he was serving as a priest and pastoral counselor. 

The report describes a single complainant, identified in civil filings as an adult woman, who alleged that she sought marriage counseling from Cotter beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s while he was assigned within the Diocese of Gaylord. 

She reported that the counseling relationship continued for several years, including after the dissolution of her marriage, transitioning into individual pastoral counseling. 

According to her account, during this ongoing counselor-parishioner relationship, Cotter allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with her in May 1992, at a time when he was still acting in a position of clerical authority and trust. The woman further alleged that the encounter resulted in a pregnancy and the birth of a child. 

These allegations later formed the basis of a civil lawsuit filed in the mid-1990s against Cotter and the Diocese of Gaylord, asserting claims that included breach of fiduciary duty and emotional distress tied to the imbalance of power inherent in the pastoral counseling relationship. 

The civil matter was ultimately resolved through a settlement, and the case was dismissed without a criminal proceeding. Church officials reviewed the allegation internally and treated it as substantiated for Church administrative purposes, despite the absence of criminal charges. 

The Diocese later acknowledged the allegation publicly following the release of the Attorney General’s report and imposed restrictions on Cotter’s public ministry. No additional allegations involving other individuals or minors were reported in connection with Cotter in the Attorney General’s findings or subsequent diocesan disclosures.

Summary: Raymond Charles Cotter was accused of sexual misconduct with an adult woman during a pastoral counseling relationship in the early 1990s, while he was serving in the Diocese of Gaylord. The allegation resulted in a civil lawsuit and internal Church restrictions, but not in criminal charges or a criminal conviction.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Patrick R. Cooney — Diocese of Gaylord
• Francis J. Hurley — Archdiocese of Anchorage
• James H. Garland — Diocese of Marquette

Institutional Actions and Review

Institutional records summarized in the Michigan Attorney General’s investigation indicate that Church authorities within the Diocese of Gaylord were notified of concerns involving Father Raymond Charles Cotter in February 1996. 

A former counselee filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct during a pastoral counseling relationship in the early 1990s. The diocese reviewed the matter internally while the civil case was pending, and the lawsuit was later resolved through settlement and dismissal.

Cotter was transferred out of the Diocese of Gaylord in 1995 to serve under the Archdiocese of Anchorage, and subsequently served within the Diocese of Marquette. 

During that later period, the Diocese of Marquette stated that no additional complaints or prior concerns were documented in his personnel record. In the years that followed, the allegation remained confined to internal Church handling and related civil proceedings, without public disclosure.

Decades later, the Michigan Attorney General released its clergy abuse investigation, bringing the matter into public view. In response, the Diocese of Gaylord restricted Cotter from public ministry, barred him from presiding at public celebrations of Mass, and publicly added his name to the list of credibly accused Michigan clergy.

Timeline

November 28, 1986 — Ordained a Catholic priest

1986–1995 — Served in parish ministry within the Diocese of Gaylord

May 1992  — Sexual misconduct with an adult woman allegedly occurred during a pastoral counseling relationship

1995 — Transferred from the Diocese of Gaylord to serve under the Archdiocese of Anchorage

February 29, 1996 — Civil lawsuit filed by a former counselee alleging sexual misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, and related claims

1996 — Required to undergo evaluation while under the Archdiocese of Anchorage; subsequently returned to Gaylord

1997–1999 — Served in ministerial assignments within the Diocese of Marquette

April 18, 2001 — Resigned as pastor in the Diocese of Marquette; returned to the Diocese of Gaylord

January 2024 — Publicly identified in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know experienced sexual misconduct involving Fr. Raymond Charles Cotter or another Catholic clergy member in Michigan, legal options may still be available. Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse statewide.

Contact us to schedule a confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse attorney to better understand your rights and next steps.

Sources and Public Records

This page draws on publicly available government records, official Church statements, media reporting, and civil court documentation, including the following materials:

• The Michigan Attorney General’s January 2024 investigative report on clergy misconduct within the Diocese of Gaylord, which summarizes a civil allegation involving Father Raymond Charles Cotter, outlines the underlying lawsuit and settlement, and documents how the matter was handled by Church authorities.
• An official statement issued by the Diocese of Marquette responding to the Attorney General’s report, which addresses Cotter’s period of service within the diocese and states that no additional complaints or prior concerns were recorded during his assignment there.
• A public announcement from the Diocese of Gaylord, released by Bishop Walsh, detailing diocesan determinations regarding priests referenced in the Attorney General’s report, including Cotter’s removal from public ministry and his inclusion on the diocese’s list of credibly accused clergy.
• Reporting by Crux, which summarizes the Michigan Attorney General’s findings and confirms the restrictions imposed on priests named in the report, including the prohibition on presiding at public celebrations of Mass.

No criminal conviction is implied unless expressly stated in public court records or official government findings. Allegations are described based on documented civil filings, investigative summaries, and 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.