Sexual Abuse Allegations Against John Martin

This page outlines the parish assignments, substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional actions against Fr. John Edward Martin, as part of Injury Lawyer Team’s legal representation of clergy abuse survivors in Michigan. 

• Primary Entity Name: John Martin
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father John Martin, Fr. John Edward Martin, John Edward Martin
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parochial Vicar, Pastor
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. John Martin was publicly listed as a credibly accused priest by several Church bodies and government entities, including:

• The Archdiocese of Detroit
• The Diocese of Lansing
• The Michigan Department of Attorney General (2024 report)

Allegations include spiritual and sexual abuse in the 1940s through 1960s, including reportedly abusing boys and then absolving them through confession. The allegations were not disclosed until after his death.

• Entity that Listed Him: Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan Attorney General (2024 report)
• Reason for Listing: Multiple substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse were made public starting in 2010

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1918

Years in Active Ministry: 1918–1968

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing

Restrictions: None

Died: 1968

Public Listing: Named in multiple Church lists and the 2024 Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Lansing

Number of Survivors: Nine listed in public reports, though there may have been more

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Diocese of Lansing

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

• St. Vincent — Detroit, MI (1918-1923)
• Sacred Heart — Yale, MI (1923-1932)
• St. Philip — Battle Creek, MI (1932-1938)
• St. Mary — Morris, MI (1938-1941)
• St. Isidore — Laingsburg (1941-1966)

Non-Church Assignments: Public records note that Fr. Martin was involved in youth ministry, including overnight trips to Canada.

Known Allegations

Fr. Martin was publicly accused of sexually assaulting at least nine children between the 1940s and 1960s, as noted in the 2024 Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Lansing. 

Disclosure of sexual abuse publicly emerged beginning in 2010, over four decades after Fr. Martin died in 1968. According to survivor reports, Fr. Martin would allegedly invite boys to the rectory and then molest them. One survivor reported that Fr. Martin would ask him to take a shower in the rectory after performing yardwork, then enter the bathroom naked and attempt to engage in sexual behavior.

Several of the reports allege that Fr. Martin would exploit his position of authority as a “direct line to god” and warn them that they would be spiritually punished if they disclosed the abuse. He would allegedly molest the children, then encourage them to take confession and forgive them of their sins.

The Attorney General’s report notes that several survivors suggested that there were further victims who either chose never to disclose or passed away before addressing the abuse. 

Fr. Martin took several boys on fishing trips to Canada. During these, survivors allege that he performed oral sex on the children. Survivors report that Fr. Martin paid for school tuition, clothing, and housing for the boys, and that he molested several members of some families. 

There are no records of Fr. Martin being publicly listed as an accused clergy member before his death. However, some survivor reports state that Diocese of Lansing officials were aware of the accusations but chose not to act. 

Summary: Fr. John Edward Martin is publicly listed as a credibly accused priest due to multiple substantiated allegations of sexual abuse taking place between the 1940s and 1960s. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods:

• Bishop Joseph H. Albers — Diocese of Lansing
• Bishop Michael Gallagher — Archdiocese of Detroit
• Cardinal Edward Aloysius Mooney — Archdiocese of Detroit

Institutional Actions and Review

According to one survivor, he informed then-Bishop Albers about the abuse sometime in the 1950s, but Bishop Albers forced him to swear on a Bible that he would not speak of it again. Upon learning of this, the Diocese of Lansing attempted to obtain personal records from Bishop Albers, but the Attorney General’s report notes that these communications were not located.

In 2010, a Diocese of Lansing official stated that they had been informed of an allegation several years earlier but had not acted. Institutional review began in 2010, when two survivors reported that Fr. Martin molested them in the 1950s or 1960s. 

Bishop Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing published two bulletins in 2010, addressing the allegations and stating that the Church believed they were credible. Following being included on the list of accused Michigan clergy, several more survivors approached the Church to state that they were also abused, and that there were further victims who had not shared their stories.

The Diocese of Lansing paid for therapy for several of the victims. Still, public records do not show any criminal convictions or legal actions taken against Fr. Martin or the diocese. 

Timeline

1918 — Ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit

1918–1966 — Held parish assignments in the Archdiocese of Detroit and Diocese of Lansing

1958 (approx) — Survivor allegedly addresses abuse with Bishop Albers but is told not to report

1966 — Fr. Martin retires from ministry after St. Isidore Church burns down

1968 – Died

2010 — First survivor discloses abuse taking place in the 1950s and 1960s

2010 — Bishop Boyea publicly addresses alleged abuse in two bulletins

2019 — Fr. Martin is included on Diocese of Lansing’s list of credibly accused priests

2019 — Fr. Martin is included on Archdiocese of Detroit’s list of credibly accused priest

2024 — Michigan Attorney General releases report on clergy abuse in the Diocese of Lansing, listing Fr. Martin

Speak With an Attorney

If you or a loved one were sexually abused by Fr. John Edward Martin or another Michigan clergy member, you may be able to file a legal claim. Injury Lawyer Team represents survivors of clergy abuse throughout the state of Michigan and recognizes the sensitive nature of these lawsuits. Contact a Michigan clergy abuse attorney for a confidential and survivor-focused consultation. 

Sources

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

• A press release by the Diocese of Lansing, which acknowledges the allegations as substantiated and lists Fr. Martin’s parish assignments.
• The 2019 Diocese of Lansing list of credibly accused priests, which includes John Martin.
• The Archdiocese of Detroit’s official list of clerics with substantiated allegations, where John Edward Martin is listed under the Diocese of Lansing. 
• The 2024 Michigan Attorney General report on the Diocese of Lansing, which chronicles the survivor allegations against John Martin and describes the Church’s response.
• Fr. John Edward Martin’s profile on Bishop-Accountability.org, which compiles public records, Church documents, and news articles regarding the allegations of child 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.