Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Donald J. Heydens

This page summarizes the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions against Fr. Donald J. Heydens, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of abuse survivors in Michigan clergy abuse claims. 

• Primary Entity Name: Donald Heydens
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Donald Heydens, Fr. Donald Heydens, Donald J. Heydens
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Associate Pastor, Youth Ministry Involvement
• Current Status: Removed from ministry

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Donald J. Heydens has been publicly identified as an accused priest following a 2025 investigation by the Michigan State Attorney General’s Office into clergy sexual abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The Attorney General’s report follows in the lead of a 2002 list of substantiated allegations from the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Public reports state that Fr. Heydens was removed from public ministry in 1993, at which time he was prohibited from unsupervised contact with minors. He had his faculties fully revoked in 2002 following the Dallas Bishops’ Conference, at which time he was assigned to a life of prayer and penance. 

The Attorney General’s report notes that the Church was first notified of sexual misconduct in 1989. There are no public records of criminal charges being filed against Heydens in connection with the allegations, though one victim filed a civil claim against Heydens in 1993. 

• Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Grand Rapids; Michigan Attorney General’s Office (2025 report)
• Reason for Listing: Substantiated allegations of child sex abuse against four female minors, included in public disclosures following institutional review

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Date: June 5, 1970
• Years in Active Ministry: 1970–1993
• Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Grand Rapids (Michigan)
• Restrictions: No publicly documented restrictions prior to resignation
• Removal / Resignation: Removed from ministry in 1993; permanently removed from faculties in 2002
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: March 23, 2002, published in the Grand Rapids Press; later included in the 2025 Michigan Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Reported Survivors: 12, as reflected in the Attorney General’s report

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids 

Parish Assignments (as documented in public disclosures):

• St. Francis Church — Holland, MI (date range not publicly specified)
• Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Caledonia (1984)
• Saint Thomas the Apostle — Grand Rapids, MI (date range not publicly specified)

Non-Church Assignments: Was involved in youth camp programs throughout Michigan, and was an active member of the local school board.  

Known Allegations

The 2025 Michigan Attorney General’s report lists 12 known victims, numbered Jane Doe #10 through #21. The first credible allegation came to light in 1989, when Jane Doe #10 accused Fr. Heydens of sexual abuse during 1972 and 1973, when she was between 16 and 18 years old. 

In a letter to the then-bishop Robert Rose, Jane Doe #10 claimed that Heydens was a “threat to women and children.” The Diocese paid her $100,000.00 for her mental health treatment and psychological anguish.

In 1992, Vincent Andrews, property and casualty director of the Michigan Catholic Conference, disclosed that three more young women had come forward also alleging sexual misconduct by Fr. Heydens and seeking damages. At least one of the girls was as young as 12 at the time of the reported abuse.

Heydens was removed from the ministry in 1993. He publicly acknowledged that he had “sinned” and asked the St. Thomas Parish for forgiveness. After this, another victim filed suit, alleging she was sexually assaulted in the early 1970s. This, and other cases, were settled.

Following Heydens’s removal of faculties, other women alleged that he had groped, fondled, or otherwise inappropriately touched them during the 1970s. At least one of the women was hospitalized for psychiatric symptoms resulting from the trauma. 

The Diocese of Grand Rapids acknowledged that the allegations were credible, and at least five of the women were offered compensation. 

Summary: Heydens was accused of inappropriate touching of at least 12 young women, leading to his removal from ministry in 1993 and removal of priestly faculties in 2002. Heydens publicly acknowledged the alleged misconduct in a letter to the St. Thomas Parish in April 1993. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Joseph Breitenbeck – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Bishop Robert Rose – Diocese of Grand Rapids

Institutional Actions and Review

The Diocese of Grand Rapids was first alerted to allegations on May 8, 1989, by Attorney Richard Spruit, representing Jane Doe #10. The Diocese settled with her in 1991 and forced her to sign a confidentiality agreement. 

Following four further allegations, the Diocese of Grand Rapids required Fr. Heydens to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Isaac Ray Center on April 12, 1993. The evaluator was informed of four allegations of sexual assault. 

Although the evaluation results have not been made public, Fr. Heydens was relieved of ministry following the evaluation. The Diocese of Grand Rapids issued a press release acknowledging the allegations on April 22, 1993, and then removed him from parish ministry.

Fr. Heydens served in several ministerial roles following his removal from parish ministry, including at a jail and a nursing home. He was also appointed Diocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate in 2000, a role that did not involve contact with minors.

Following an article in the Grand Rapids Press in June 2002 and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ adoption of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in July 2002, Bishop Rose permanently removed Fr. Heydens’ priestly faculties and assigned him a life of penance. 

The Michigan Attorney General’s report on the list of accused Michigan priests notes that none of the alleged misconduct occurred after the Diocese was made aware of the concerns in 1989. 

Timeline

Late 1960s — Alleged abuse prior to ordination

1970 — Ordained in the Diocese of Grand Rapids

1972–1973 — Alleged abuse in St. Francis Parish

1989 — Diocese becomes aware of alleged abuse

1991 — First settlement; Heydens remains on duty

1992 — Additional allegations by four more victims

1993 — Heydens is removed from parish ministry

2002 – Heydens is relieved of priestly faculties

2025 – Heydens is listed on the Attorney General’s report

Speak With an Attorney

If you have been sexually abused by Fr. Donald Heydens or another Michigan clergy member, you may have a legal claim. The Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse from the Diocese of Grand Rapids and across the state. Contact a Michigan clergy abuse attorney for a confidential, free consultation about taking legal action. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, Church documents, and survivor reports, including the following:

• The Michigan Attorney General’s 2025 report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which lists Fr. Donald Heydens as a credibly accused priest.
• A WZZM-13 article that details the allegations against Fr. Donald Heydens.
• Fr. Donald Heydens’s profile on BishopAccountability.org, which compiles public records regarding allegations against the priest. 
• A WoodTV article summarizing the allegations against Fr. Donald Heydens. 
• Doe 15 v. Heydens, et. al, Kent County Circuit Court Case No. 93-82029-NZ, a 1993 civil claim filed in the Kent County 17th Circuit Court for alleged 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.