Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. John Steven Rabideau

This page outlines the known assignments, credible allegations of child sexual abuse, and institutional and legal actions involving Fr. John Steven Rabideau, a Catholic priest and member of a religious order, in connection with abuse reported in Michigan.

• Primary Entity Name: John Steven Rabideau
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father John Steven Rabideau, Fr. John Rabideau, John S. Rabideau
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Seminarian; later Roman Catholic Priest (member of a religious order)
• Current Status: Deceased

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Fr. John Steven Rabideau was publicly identified as a credibly accused and criminally convicted Catholic priest through Michigan court records, disclosures by his religious order, and later diocesan publication. His case became publicly known following Michigan criminal proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse of minors, along with subsequent Church reviews of historical abuse cases connected to the state.

Rabideau was a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV), a Roman Catholic religious order. Although he was not a diocesan priest and was never assigned to parish ministry in the Diocese of Saginaw, his name was later included on that diocese’s publicly released list of clergy with credible allegations. The diocese stated that his inclusion was based on his prosecution in Michigan rather than on any diocesan assignment.

He was convicted in Michigan on charges related to the sexual abuse of children, served a prison sentence, and died in 2014.

Entity that Listed Him: Oblates of the Virgin Mary (religious order); Diocese of Saginaw (Michigan); Michigan criminal courts

Reason for Listing: Criminal conviction for child sexual abuse; credible allegations involving minors; inclusion in diocesan review and public disclosure of accused clergy connected to Michigan

Key Status Facts

• Ordination Year: 1990
• Years in Active Ministry: Ordained in 1990; reportedly suspended in the early 1990s and later dismissed from his religious order
• Locations Where He Served: Associated with Michigan through reported abuse allegations; member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary; publicly reported religious activity outside the United States
• Restrictions: Reportedly suspended from ministry by his religious order
• Removal / Dismissal: Dismissed from the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in 1997
• Laicization: Public records do not clearly indicate formal laicization by the Vatican
• Criminal Conviction: Convicted in Michigan in 2006 and sentenced to a prison term of approximately five to ten years
• Died: May 30, 2014, at age 52, in a bicycling accident
• Public Disclosure / Listing Date: Included on the Diocese of Saginaw’s public list of credibly accused clergy dated August 9, 2019

Assignment History

Primary Diocese / Order: Diocese of Saginaw, Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV), a Roman Catholic religious order

Public records indicate that Rabideau’s clerical formation and early ministry were conducted under the authority of his religious order rather than within a specific diocese.

• Seminary Formation and Studies — United States and Rome (1980s–1990s)
  Rabideau was enrolled in seminary formation with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary during the mid-1980s. Public reporting indicates that he studied in Boston and Rome. The abuse later reported in criminal proceedings was alleged to have occurred during this period.
• Early Priesthood — United States (1990–early 1990s)
  Following ordination in 1990, Rabideau served in limited roles under his religious order. Public disclosures do not identify specific parish assignments or long-term institutional placements.
• Overseas Religious Activity — Philippines and Latin America (1990s–2000s)
  Following criminal allegations, Rabideau left the United States and resided abroad. Public reporting indicates that he engaged in religious activity overseas, including serving as a priest in the Philippines in 2004, despite unresolved criminal matters in Michigan.

Non-Church Assignments / Associated Activities:

• Informal or non-parish religious activities during seminary formation
• Overseas religious work not formally assigned by a U.S. diocese

These placements establish the context in which the reported abuse occurred and explain the absence of parish assignments in diocesan records.

Known Allegations

Fr. John Steven Rabideau has been publicly associated with allegations of child sexual abuse involving three boys, with alleged misconduct occurring during the mid-1980s (approximately 1985–1987). The victims were reported in public records to have been between the ages of 6 and 14.

According to court records and public reporting, the alleged abuse occurred in the Bay City area of Bay County, Michigan, including Williams Township, while Rabideau was a seminarian. During this period, he was reportedly visiting family, and the alleged incidents occurred during those visits rather than in a parish setting.

The victims reported the abuse in 1998, prompting a criminal investigation and the issuance of an arrest warrant. Rabideau later entered a no-contest plea to three criminal charges related to child sexual abuse; additional charges were dropped. He was convicted and sentenced in 2006.

Church-related disclosures later categorized Rabideau as a religious-order priest with credible allegations, resulting in his inclusion on public disclosure lists following a subsequent review.

Summary: Public records describe Rabideau as a religious-order priest who faced credible allegations involving the sexual abuse of multiple minors in Michigan during the mid-1980s and whose case resulted in a criminal conviction and later public Church disclosure.

Overseeing Authority During the Key Period: Oblates of the Virgin Mary (religious order)

Associated Organizations / Contextual Entities:

• Oblates of the Virgin Mary
• Michigan criminal justice system
• Diocesan accused-clergy disclosure processes

Institutional Actions and Review

Public records indicate that concerns regarding Fr. John Steven Rabideau’s conduct were addressed through a combination of religious-order actions and criminal proceedings.

Rabideau’s religious order reportedly suspended him from ministry in 1992 and dismissed him in 1997. After allegations were reported in Michigan in 1998 and an arrest warrant was issued, Rabideau left the United States and was considered a fugitive for several years. Authorities later determined that he had been living and working overseas.

In 2006, Rabideau was arrested in Colombia, briefly held in U.S. custody in Florida, and then returned to Michigan to face criminal charges. He was convicted and incarcerated later that year.

Although he never served in parish ministry within the Diocese of Saginaw, the diocese later added his name to its public disclosure of credibly accused clergy connected to the state as part of a broader review, including the list of accused clergy in Michigan. Public disclosure occurred years after the original reports.

Timeline

1985–1987 — Alleged sexual abuse of minors reportedly occurred in Bay County, Michigan

1990 — Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest; member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary

1992 — Reportedly suspended from ministry

1997 — Dismissed from the Oblates of the Virgin Mary

1998 — Abuse reported; arrest warrant issued

Late 1990s–2000s — Left the United States and lived abroad

2006 — Arrested in Colombia, returned to Michigan, convicted, and sentenced

May 30, 2014 — Died in a bicycling accident

August 9, 2019 — Included on the Diocese of Saginaw public disclosure list

Speak With an Attorney

If you or someone you know was sexually abused by Fr. John Steven Rabideau or any Catholic clergy member in Michigan, you may still have legal options. Survivors of clergy abuse may be entitled to pursue accountability and compensation under Michigan law.

Contact us to book a confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse attorney to understand your rights and next steps.

Sources and Public Records

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

• The Diocese of Saginaw’s public disclosure update on religious-order priests who were credibly accused, which includes information explaining why John Steven Rabideau was added to the diocesan website despite not being assigned to ministry in the diocese.
• The BishopAccountability.org profile and document archive for John Steven Rabideau, which compiles public court records, media reporting, and Church disclosures regarding allegations and criminal proceedings.
• A 2006 news report documenting Rabideau’s arrest abroad and return to face charges in Michigan, including details publicly reported about the allegations and the criminal case timeline.

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.