Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Thomas G. Lapine

Father Thomas G. Lapine was a priest ordained by the Holy Cross Community who served in multiple states, including Oregon, Indiana, and Michigan. Years after he died in 1994, allegations of sexual abuse came out when Lapine was helping with masses at St. Mary’s School in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. 

• Primary Entity Name: Thomas G. Lapine
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Thomas G. Lapine, Fr. Thomas, Fr. Lapine, Thomas Lapine
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Hospital Chaplain
• Current Status: Deceased (1994)

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Thomas G. Lapine, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

During his lifetime, there are no reports that Thomas G. Lapine was accused of sexual abuse. Diocesan records of the accused priest state only that he served in the jurisdiction from 1969 to 1981 and died in 1964, with no mention of any ministry restrictions. Since his death, the following entities have publicly identified Lapine for sexual abuse allegations: 

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

These entities listed Heyman due to substantiated claims of sexual abuse against him. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1949 by the Congregation of the Holy Cross

Years in Active Ministry: 1949-1992 (roughly 43 years)

Locations Where He Served: Diocese of Kalamazoo, Oregon, Indiana

Restrictions: None

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):

Religious order priest whose documented ministry consisted of educational and hospital chaplaincy roles; no verified parish assignments are named in the Michigan Attorney General report or other public primary sources.

Non-parish Assignments:

1944-1964 – Columbia Preparatory School and University of Portland in Portland, OR

1964-1984 – Chaplain for various hospitals, including St. Joseph in Mishawaka, IN

1969-1981 – Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI

Known Allegations

In 2016, a man revealed that he had been sexually abused by Father Thomas G. Lapine in 1973 while he was attending St. Mary School. At the time, Lapine was assigned as a chaplain to Borgess Hospital, and he also assisted with Masses at the school. 

According to the victim, who was in 5th grade at the time, he would sneak into the church for some quiet space during the school’s recess period. One time, he saw Lapine entering the basement and followed him. Just outside of a bathroom, Lapine grabbed the victim and slammed him into the bathroom. He then forcefully put his genitals into the boy’s mouth. 

In 2016, the victim spoke to Deacon Patrick Hall, an investigator for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, about the abuse. He claimed that the misconduct occurred once and that his family moved to a different part of the city after the school year. Hall investigated and discovered that the perpetrator was Lapine, who was not a diocesan priest. As a result, the matter was referred to the Congregation of the Holy Cross. This order agreed to investigate the matter. Deacon Hall also reported the issue to civil authorities in 2016.

Summary: In 1973, a male victim was only in the 5th grade when Lapine abused him in a basement bathroom, but these allegations were not brought to the church until decades after the priest’s death, resulting in his public identification as a sexually abusive church official. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

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

Associated Organizations:

• Borgess Hospital
• St. Joseph Hospital
• Columbia Preparatory School
• University of Portland
• Holy Cross Community

Institutional Actions and Review

By all accounts, the church was unaware of Lapine’s conduct in 1973 until many years after his death. The victim did not speak out until 2016, over 40 years after the incident occurred. According to the Attorney General’s report, the victim met with an investigator for the Diocese in 2016. During that meeting, he recounted the assault that took place in the basement of St. Mary’s parish in Kalamazoo, MI. 

In response to this meeting, Deacon Patrick Hall conducted an investigation and determined that Lapine was the abusive party. Since Lapine belonged to a religious order rather than the diocese, Hall referred the matter to the Congregation of the Holy Cross, which then conducted its own investigation. Civil authorities were also informed about the abuse in 2016. 

In 2024, the Diocese of Kalamazoo released a list of credibly accused priests in Michigan, which included Lapine even though he was deceased. Additionally, the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 report on the diocese included his name for substantiated sexual abuse allegations. 

Timeline

1949 – Ordained by the Congregation of the Holy Cross

1964-1984 – Assigned to various parishes, hospitals, and schools

1969-1981 – Assigned to Borgess Hospital in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, MI

1973 – Lapine sexually abused a 5th-grade boy after helping serve mass at St. Mary Elementary School

1992 – Lapine retired from the ministry

1994 – Lapine died

2016 – Lapine’s victim met with a diocese investigator to recount his abuse in 1973

2016 – The matter is referred to the Holy Cross Community and reported to the police

2024 – The Diocese of Kalamazoo releases its list of credibly accused priests, which includes Lapine

2024 – The Michigan Attorney General’s office published its report on clergy abuse in Kalamazoo, referencing Lapine’s time in the diocese

Speak With an Attorney

Victims of sexual abuse often face a lifetime of physical and emotional suffering. The challenges are even greater when the perpetrator is someone who had the victim’s trust. Clergy abuse is a serious issue in Michigan, but victims can pursue civil action against the at-fault parties to seek justice. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we will stand by your side as you pursue fair compensation for your legal damages. We know what it takes to build a strong claim and hold your abuser or the diocese accountable. 

If you have been affected by sexual abuse by a church official, 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 on Thomas G. Lapine from Bishop Accountability
• An obituary entry about Thomas G. Lapine
• The Michigan Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Kalamazoo
• A list of credibly accused priests in 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.