Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Charles Raymond Antekeier

This page outlines the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions involving Charles Antekeier, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Charles Raymond Antekeier
• Common Variations / Aliases: Charles Antekeier, Fr. Charles Antekeier, Father Charles Antekeier
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic parish priest and pastor
• Current Status: Removed from ministry, permanently restricted from public priestly functions

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Charles Antekeier has been publicly identified as a Michigan cleric, credibly accused of sexual abuse against minors, by both Church authorities and state investigators, including:

• Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Michigan Attorney General’s Office (2025 report)

Antekeier was suspended from ministry, permanently restricted from all public priestly functions, formally removed from ministry following a Vatican determination, but not criminally prosecuted due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

• Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan Attorney General’s Office
• Reason for Listing: Substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1962

Years in Active Ministry: 1962–2000

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Grand Rapids

Restrictions: Permanently restricted from public priestly ministry; ordered by the Vatican to no longer present himself publicly as a priest and to live a life of prayer and penance

Public Disclosure: Publicly disclosed by the Diocese of Grand Rapids following a Vatican determination; later included in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse report

Assignment History 

Primary Archdiocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Charles Borromeo – Cheboygan, MI (1962-late 1960s)
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Belmont, MI (1972-mid 1970s)
• St. James Parish – Grand Rapids, MI (mid 1970s–late 1980s)
• St. Francis Xavier Parish – Grand Rapids, MI (1987–2000)

Non-Church Assignments: Participated in school- and parish-based activities involving minors, including confession, counseling, and youth-related religious programs connected to parish and Charismatic movement events

Known Allegations

Publicly released investigative records describe a series of allegations against Charles Antekeier that unfolded over decades and involved more than one complainant, with the earliest reports tied to his access to children through parish and school life in Grand Rapids. 

According to diocesan files summarized in state investigations, one individual reported that abuse began when he was approximately eight years old and continued over several years during the late 1960s and 1970s. These incidents occurred in settings connected to St. James Parish, including school-related spaces, church facilities, and the rectory, and the conduct allegedly escalated as the victim aged. 

Separate allegations later described abuse during the mid-1980s, again connected to St. James, involving sexual contact with a minor while Antekeier served in a pastoral role with regular access to children. 

In addition to child abuse allegations, the Diocese also documented a complaint received in 2003 alleging that, during 1994–1995, Antekeier engaged in sexualized behavior and solicitation in the context of sacramental confession, conduct that Church authorities formally reviewed and determined constituted a violation of canon law. 

As these matters were examined, the Diocese treated the allegations as credible enough to warrant escalating restrictions. Later disclosures note that additional reports surfaced over time, including tipline submissions alleging abuse during earlier decades at both St. James and St. Mary’s parishes. 

Summary: Public records describe multiple allegations against Charles Antekeier involving the sexual abuse of minors and related misconduct spanning several decades of his ministry, which Church authorities deemed credible enough to impose permanent removal from public priestly ministry.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Allen J. Babcock – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Paul V. Donovan – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Patrick R. Cooney – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Walter A. Hurley – Diocese of Grand Rapids (Apostolic Administrator)
• David J. Walkowiak – Diocese of Grand Rapids

Institutional Actions and Review

Institutional records indicate that Church authorities were first formally notified of allegations involving Charles Antekeier after his retirement, when a complaint was received by the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 2003. 

This notification prompted the immediate suspension of his priestly faculties and the opening of an internal review.

That review uncovered earlier concerns in his personnel history, including documented reprimands tied to inappropriate conduct dating back to the late 1980s, which had not resulted in public disclosure or removal at the time. 

As the Diocese continued its investigation, the matter was referred through canonical channels, and in 2004, a diocesan tribunal concluded that Antekeier had violated Church law, imposing significant penalties that barred him from hearing confessions and limited any form of public ministry. 

Despite these findings, his status remained largely internal until additional allegations surfaced, leading to a formal decision in 2006 to permanently restrict him from public priestly ministry. 

The case was later forwarded to the Vatican, and in 2015, Church authorities received a determination requiring that Antekeier no longer present himself publicly as a priest and live a life of prayer and penance. 

At this point, the Diocese publicly named him among the list of credibly accused clergy in Michigan and stated that information had been shared with civil authorities. 

Subsequent state investigation records show that while no criminal charges were pursued due to statutes of limitations, the Diocese’s eventual disclosure occurred years after the earliest internal concerns.

Timeline

1962 — Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Rapids

Late 1960s–early 1970s — Alleged sexual abuse of a minor reportedly occurred during parish- and school-related access at St. James Parish

1984–1985 — Additional alleged sexual abuse of a minor reported as occurring at St. James Parish, Grand Rapids

1989–1990 — Alleged sexual abuse of a minor reported as occurring during this period at St. Francis Xavier Parish

2000 — Retired from active ministry and granted Senior Priest status

2003 — Allegation formally reported to the Diocese of Grand Rapids; Antekeier suspended from priestly faculties

2004 — Diocesan tribunal concluded he violated canon law; barred from hearing confessions and restricted from public ministry

2006 — Permanently restricted from public priestly ministry

2015 — Vatican determination issued requiring that he no longer present himself publicly as a priest and live a life of prayer and penance

2015 — Publicly disclosed by the Diocese of Grand Rapids as a credibly accused cleric; information reported to civil authorities

2025 — Included in the Michigan Attorney General’s report

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, including allegations involving Charles Antekeier, may be entitled to pursue civil claims under Michigan law. The Injury Lawyer Team assists survivors throughout the state.

Reach out today to speak privately with an experienced Michigan clergy abuse lawyer about your options.

Sources and Public Records

This page draws on publicly available records, official Church disclosures, investigative reporting, and survivor-facing documentation, including the following sources:

• The Michigan Attorney General’s final report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which compiles investigative findings, diocesan records, tipline information, and includes Charles Antekeier among the clergy discussed in the statewide review.
• A public statement issued by the Diocese of Grand Rapids in August 2015, announcing that Antekeier could no longer present himself publicly as a priest, referencing a Vatican determination and noting that the matter was reported to civil authorities.
• The Charles Antekeier profile page on BishopAccountability.org, which organizes and links primary documents and public references related to Antekeier in one place, including disclosures and reporting associated with his case.
• An investigative news report, which highlights the experiences of victims who came forward and contextualizes the human impact of allegations detailed in the AG’s investigation.

No criminal conviction is implied unless it is explicitly stated in official court records or other authoritative public documents.

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.