Father Stanislaus Bur Sexual Abuse Allegations

This page identifies the assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional response related to Fr. Stanislaus Bur, as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation for survivors in Michigan clergy sexual abuse cases. 

• Primary Entity Name: Stanislaus Bur
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Stanislaus Bur, Fr. Stanislaus Bur, Stanislaus Bur
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Associate Pastor, Pastor, Youth Ministry involvement
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. Stanislaus Bur was one of eight priests from the Diocese of Grand Rapids identified in a 2025 Michigan Attorney General’s report as having credible allegations of sexual abuse. He also served in the Diocese of Saginaw. Both dioceses were suffragan dioceses within the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Public records show that Bur resigned from active ministry in July 1983. He was suspended from ministry in 1992, then permanently suspended from faculties in November 2005. The Catholic Church assigned him to a life of prayer and penance, which forbade the former priest from performing public ministry. This is assigned when a priest is not suited for dismissal due to advanced age or infirmity. While allegations first publicly arose against Bur in 2002, he was not criminally charged or convicted before he died in 2009. 

• Entity that Listed Him: Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan Attorney General (2025 report)
• Reason for Listing: Substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse included in public disclosures after government and Church review

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Date: June 3, 1950
• Years in Active Ministry: 1950–1983
• Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Saginaw
• Restrictions: No publicly documented restrictions prior to resignation
• Resignation: Resigned from active ministry in July 1983
• Suspension: Suspended from ministry in October 1992; permanent suspension of faculties in November 2005
• Public Disclosures / Listing Date: Included in 2002 List of “Substantiated Allegations” from Diocese of Grand Rapids; later included in 2025 Michigan Attorney General report
• Reported Survivors: Five, as named in the 2025 Michican Attorney General Report

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Grand Rapids

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Adalbert – Grand Rapids, MI (June 1950–July 1950)
• St. Philomena – Beal City, MI (July 1950–Aug 1950)
• St. Rose of Lima – Hastings, MI (date range not publicly specified)
• St. Joseph the Worker – Beal City, MI (Aug 1970–April 1973)
• St. Edward – Kinde, MI (date range not publicly specified)
• St. Felix – Pinnebog, MI (April 1973–May 1974)
• St. Valentine – Beaver, MI (May 1974–July 1983)

Non-Church Assignments: In addition to his parish work, Fr. Bur engaged in pastoral visits to homes, where at least one incident of sexual misconduct occurred. He was also involved in parish schools, including both grade schools and high schools. These schools are referenced in the 2025 Attorney General report that outlines the allegations against Bur.

Known Allegations

The 2025 Michigan Attorney General report outlines credible allegations from at least five victims against Fr. Stanislaus Bur, named as John Doe #25, John Doe #26, John Doe #27, John Doe #28, John Doe #29, and John Doe #30.

The first allegation arose in the 1990s, when John Doe #30 stated that Fr. Bur sexually abused him and others in the late 1950s. According to the victim, Fr. Bur watched the boys shower after basketball games and masturbated in his car while listening to confessions. 

Furthermore, John Doe #30 stated that Bur raped him while in his home in 1958. His mother had consented to Bur visiting their home and waking up the victim, at which time Bur began to molest the child. John Doe #30 alleged that he woke up and chased Bur out of the home. After reporting the abuse to the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the Church paid for John Doe #30’s therapy from 1992 to 2001.

Bur commented publicly on the allegations in 2002, stating that he was only trying to educate the children by touching them. 

In May 2006, further allegations emerged from John Doe #25, who stated that Fr. Bur molested himself and his cousin, John Doe #26, while they stayed at hotels during a cross-country trip in July 1967. Both boys were around 13 years old. John Doe #25 alleged that his cousin had a “mental breakdown” to the abuse and had not been employed since the 1970s. The Church also paid for the two men’s counseling expenses.

In December of that same year, John Doe #28 came forward to allege that in the 1950s, he would accompany Fr. Bur on work trips, during which time Bur would molest him and masturbate in front of him. John Doe #28 also alleged that Bur would touch him, measure his penis length, and touch his buttocks. He was around 11 years old. 

The last accuser, John Doe #29, came forward in October 2007 to allege that Fr. Bur asked him inappropriate questions during 1957 or 1958, when he was around 13. 

Summary: From the 1992 until 2007, Fr. Stanislaus Bur was credibly accused of sexual abuse by five separate individuals, each around 13 at the time of the assault. The abuse occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, but no criminal action was taken. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Francis Joseph Haas – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Bishop Allen James Babcock – Diocese of Grand Rapids
• Bishop Joseph Matthew Breitenbeck – Diocese of Grand Rapids

Associated Organizations and Contextual References:

• Diocese of Grand Rapids parish system
• Diocese of Saginaw parish system
• Michigan Attorney General’s Diocese of Grand Rapids Report

Institutional Actions and Review

The Michigan Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids notes that the Church first received allegations of abuse by Fr. Stanislaus Bur in 1992, when the Church agreed to pay John Doe #30’s therapy expenses until 2001. 

Fr. Bur resigned from active ministry in 1983, but he was not suspended until 1992, when the first allegation emerged. He was then permanently suspended in 2005 and barred from any public ministry. Bur died in 2009 without any criminal convictions.Further information about disclosure practices involving accused priests is available in the list of publicly accused clergy in MI. 

Timeline

1950 — Ordinated in Grand Rapids

1958 — First alleged abuse with John Doe #30

1957 (approx.) — Alleged abuse with John Doe #27

Late 1950s – Alleged abuse with John Doe #28

1967 — Alleged abuse with John Does #25 and #26

1970–1973 — St. Joseph the Worker, Beal City, MI

1971 — Incardinated into Diocese of Saginaw

1973–1974 — St. Felix, Pinnebog, MI

1974–1983 — St. Valentine, Beaver, MI

1983 — Resigned from active ministry

1992 — Suspended from ministry

2005 — Permanently suspended from faculty

Speak With an Attorney

If you were sexually abused by Fr. Stanislaus Bur or another clergy member in the dioceses of Grand Rapids and Saginaw, you may have legal options. Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse throughout Michigan and offers confidential, survivor-focused consultations. Contact a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer to discuss your legal rights. 

Sources

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

• The State of Michigan Attorney General’s 2025 report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids, which details the credible allegations against Fr. Stanislaus Bur, including survivor testimony. 
• The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, which listed Fr. Stanislaus Bur’s previous assignments and acknowledged his suspension of faculties. 
• The Diocese of Grand Rapids, addressing the diocese’s role in the Attorney General investigation.
• ProPublica database of credibly accused priests in the Diocese of Saginaw, which lists his assignments. 
• The BishopAccountability.org profile for Fr. Stanislaus Bur, while compiles official Catholic Directory records, credible allegations, and new outlet reports from 1950 to 2018. 

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.