Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak

This page documents Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak’s clerical assignments, the publicly reported allegations of sexual abuse, as well as the institutional actions taken against him as part of the Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of survivors in Michigan clergy abuse cases.

• Primary Entity Name: Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak
• Common Variations / Aliases: Francis Wahowiak, Fr. Francis Wahowiak, Father Francis Wahowiak, Rev. Francis Wahowiak, Reverend Francis Wahowiak
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Catholic parish priest and pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak has been publicly identified as a Michigan clergy member with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors through official Church disclosures and a state-level investigative review, as reflected in multiple public records and institutional findings, including:

• The Diocese of Lansing, Michigan
• The Michigan Attorney General (2024 investigative report)

After receiving posthumous reports, conducting an internal review, and evaluating the available information, the allegations were determined to be credible and publicly disclosed through diocesan and state-level reporting processes.

• Entity that Listed Him: The Diocese of Lansing, The Michigan Attorney General
• Reason for Listing: Credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1946

Years in Active Ministry: 1946–1978

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (MI), Diocese of Lansing (MI)

Restrictions: None publicly documented during his lifetime

Died: January 1978

Public Disclosure: Publicly listed posthumously by the Diocese of Lansing and documented in the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 investigative report

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Lansing

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Albertus – Detroit, MI
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Detroit, MI
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Wyandotte, MI
• St. Joseph Retreat – Dearborn, MI
• Ascension – Warren, MI
• St. John – Dearborn, MI
• St. Mark – Warren, MI
• St. Mary Parish – Chelsea, MI
• St. Mary Parish – Charlotte, MI

Specific start and end dates for these assignments are not consistently published in publicly available diocesan disclosures or government investigative records from this period.

Known Allegations

Public records and investigative summaries describe multiple allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak, reported to Church authorities many years after his death. 

According to the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 investigative report concerning the Diocese of Lansing, the allegations primarily relate to Wahowiak’s ministry during the 1970s, with reported incidents centered on his service as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Charlotte, Michigan, and earlier assignments in Detroit.

One allegation reported in November 2005 states that abuse began in 1974 and continued until 1978, when Wahowiak died, involving conduct alleged to have occurred in parish and rectory settings while the individual was between five and nine years old. 

That allegation also asserted that Wahowiak discouraged disclosure by suggesting negative spiritual consequences for the victim’s family. The report further alleged that abuse typically occurred in the rectory bedroom and included escalating sexual acts.

Additional allegations were documented in 2011, 2019, and 2022, including reports describing inappropriate sexual contact during the mid-1970s and accounts relayed by family members concerning alleged abuse of a deceased individual. Internal Church communications referenced in the report also note information involving more than one alleged victim connected to St. Mary School in Charlotte.

All known allegations were received posthumously. Following intake, the Diocese of Lansing conducted an internal review that included investigative steps and a review board evaluation. 

The review board concluded that the allegations met the Church’s standard for credibility, leading to Wahowiak’s public disclosure on the diocesan list. No criminal proceedings are recorded, reflecting the timing of the reports and his death decades earlier.

Summary: Multiple allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak were reported posthumously and later deemed credible through diocesan review, leading to his public disclosure by Church and state authorities.

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods

• Edward Mooney – Archdiocese of Detroit
• John Dearden – Archdiocese of Detroit
• Alexander Zaleski – Diocese of Lansing

Institutional Actions and Review

Public records indicate that Church authorities were first notified of allegations involving Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak beginning in the mid-2000s, decades after his death in 1978. 

Because the reports were received posthumously, no contemporaneous restrictions, removals from ministry, or reassignments occurred during his lifetime, and there is no indication in available records that information related to abuse allegations was shared during his historical parish transfers. 

Once the allegations were received, the Diocese of Lansing initiated an internal response that included intake through victim assistance channels, review of personnel files, and the engagement of a private investigator. 

The matter was then presented to the diocesan review board, which evaluated the allegations under the Church’s established standards and determined they met the threshold for credibility.

The Diocese subsequently disclosed Wahowiak’s name publicly, adding him to its official list of clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors. 

That disclosure occurred only after later review, rather than at the time of the alleged misconduct, and his inclusion was later documented in the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 investigative report on the Diocese of Lansing.

Timeline

1946 — Ordained as a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit

1946–1968 — Served in parish assignments within the Archdiocese of Detroit

1968 — Became associated with the Diocese of Lansing following its establishment

1974–1978 — Alleged sexual abuse reported to have occurred during Wahowiak’s ministry, primarily connected to St. Mary Parish in Charlotte, Michigan, with additional allegations tied to earlier Detroit assignments

January 1978 — Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak died while still in clerical status

November 2005 — First known allegation reported to Church authorities, involving alleged abuse during the 1970s

April 2011 — Additional allegation reported concerning alleged abuse during Wahowiak’s earlier Detroit assignment

August 2018 — Church officials documented information relayed by a parent regarding alleged abuse of two minors connected to St. Mary School in Charlotte

September 2019 — Diocese received an allegation involving a deceased alleged victim, reported by a family member

March 2022 — Diocese disclosed receipt of another allegation describing alleged misconduct in July 1974

2024 — Wahowiak publicly listed posthumously by the Diocese of Lansing following internal review

December 2024 — Case documented in the Michigan Attorney General’s investigative report on the Diocese of Lansing

Speak With an Attorney

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse involving Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak or other Michigan priests may be entitled to pursue accountability through civil action. The Injury Lawyer Team works with survivors statewide, providing confidential guidance and legal support to individuals seeking justice.

Feel free to reach out for a private consultation with one of our experienced Michigan clergy abuse lawyers to discuss your situation confidentially and understand your possible next steps.

Sources and Public Records

This page is based on government investigative findings, official Church disclosures, archival documentation, and survivor reports drawn from publicly available records. The information summarized above is supported by the following sources:

• The Diocese of Lansing’s official public list of clergy with credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors, where Wahowiak is identified following a posthumous review and determination of credibility.
• The Michigan Attorney General’s December 2024 investigative report on the Diocese of Lansing, which includes a dedicated entry detailing multiple allegations involving Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak, along with summaries of diocesan records, survivor reports, and internal Church review actions.
• Wahoviak’s profile on BishopAccountability.org, which compiles historical assignment information and references Church and investigative materials related to his clerical service and allegations.
• An archival newspaper article from the Battle Creek Enquirer dated January 30, 1978, documenting contemporaneous reporting related to Wahowiak and preserved through BishopAccountability.org’s document archive.

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in official court records, law enforcement documents, or government investigative 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.