Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Jerome M. Heyman

Father Jerome M. Heyman was accused of treating multiple women inappropriately while assigned to various parishes in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Some of the sexual misconduct was also directed toward underage girls. Despite allegations being brought to the church, Heyman continued in his ministry for many years. 

• Primary Entity Name: Jerome M. Heyman
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Jerome M. Heyman, Fr. Jerome, Fr. Heyman, Jerome Heyman
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: Deceased (2023)

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Jerome M. Heyman, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Although multiple accusers came forward to claim Heyman had abused them, it took years for Heyman to be removed from ministry and banned from parish work. The following entities have since identified the priest for sexual abuse claims:

• The Diocese of Kalamazoo, MI, on April 18, 2024
• The Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Kalamazoo, in May 2024

Heyman was included in these reports because the entities determined that the sexual abuse allegations were substantiated. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1961 by the Order of Augustinians

Years in Active Ministry: 1961-2006 (roughly 45 years)

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Kalamazoo, Archdiocese of Detroit, Archdiocese of Chicago

Restrictions: Removed from public ministry (retired) in 2006

Criminal Convictions: None

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: 2024 in the Diocese of Kalamazoo and by the Michigan Attorney General

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1961-2006 – Various assignments throughout Michigan and Illinois, including:

St. Rita High School in Chicago, IL

St. Claire of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe, MI

St. Rita in Chicago, IL

Blessed Sacrament in Allegan, MI

Our Mother of Good Counsel in Homer Glen, IL

2006 – Retired/removed from ministry in the Diocese of Kalamazoo

Known Allegations

Father Heyman was accused of sexually abusing multiple adult women and making inappropriate advances toward underage girls. 

In a letter from one of Heyman’s victims to the bishop at the time (2005), a woman details how Heyman was engaging in inappropriate behavior. Heyman offered her employment and asked her to handle the finances of a project. He would plan private business meetings with her and kiss and hug her inappropriately to greet her. He also pulled her toward him by putting his hand on the small of her back.

The woman began bringing others to these business meetings for safety. On one occasion, her sister-in-law and granddaughter accompanied her. When they got in the car, Heyman allegedly scooted into the back seat next to the granddaughter, who was 12, to kiss her. He also stated that he wished he were 60 years younger. 

Multiple parties corroborated the woman’s story, including the sister-in-law. However, Heyman denied the allegations, claiming they were gross exaggerations or outright lies. In 2006, the bishop stated that he had mediated the situation by encouraging Heyman to retire, as he was due to retire that year anyway. 

In 2011, another female victim came forward to accuse Heyman of sexual misconduct when they became friends at St. Margaret’s. According to her letter, Heyman tried forcefully kissing her and hugging her on multiple occasions. 

Summary: Jerome M. Heyman was accused of sexual misconduct against multiple women and an underage girl, but no action was taken initially until multiple sources corroborated the allegations and Heyman was pushed to retire from ministry in 2006. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Bishop Paul V. Donovan (1971-1995)
• Bishop Alfred J. Markiewicz (1995-1997)
• Bishop James A. Murray (1998-2009)
• Bishop Paul J. Bradley (2009-2023)

Institutional Actions and Review

Heyman began serving in the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1991. In 2005, allegations of sexual misconduct were brought to the church by the woman whom Heyman had offered employment. She reported the misconduct to a priest, who referred the matter to the Augustinians. In response to the report, the Province allegedly wrote a letter to Heyman, but the repercussions ended there. 

Once the victim wrote about her allegations to Bishop Murray, corroborated by accounts from her husband and sister-in-law, the church finally took action in 2006. It was the year Heyman turned 75, so he was planning to retire. The bishop encouraged him to retire a little earlier as part of the mediation with the victim. He was publicly removed from ministry in Kalamazoo upon his retirement.

A second victim came forward in 2011. Although Heyman was retired, the Diocese became more concerned about Heyman’s trips in the local area. In 2024, Heyman was identified on a list of accused Michigan priests in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. He was also included in the Michigan Attorney General’s report on the diocese. 

Timeline

1961 – Ordained by the Order of Augustinians

1961-1991 – Assigned to various ministries in Michigan and Illinois

1991 – Ordained in the Diocese of Kalamazoo

Unknown – Made multiple inappropriate advances toward adult women, as well as a 12-year-old girl

2005 – One of Heyman’s victims came forward to report her abuse in a letter to the bishop, which other witnesses corroborated

2006 – Heyman is encouraged to retire early by the bishop to remove him from ministry

2011 – A second victim speaks out about Heyman’s misconduct, which included forceful kissing and hugging

2023 – Heyman died

2024 – Heyman was identified as a sexually abusive priest in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, and the Attorney General’s report

Speak With an Attorney

Sexual abuse by a church official can have physical and emotional consequences that last a lifetime. If a clergy member in Michigan has mistreated you, the Injury Lawyer Team will stand by your side as you pursue a civil lawsuit against the at-fault parties. We know what it takes to build a strong claim and fight for fair compensation for your legal damages. 

If you have been affected by sexual abuse within the church, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources

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

• A profile of Jerome M. Heyman on Bishop Accountability’s website
• An obituary entry from the Herald News about Jerome M. Heyman
• The Michigan Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Kalamazoo
• A list of past bishops in the Diocese of Kalamazoo 

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.