The Diocese of Lansing has found an allegation of sexual abuse against a minor by the late Father Patrick Egan (1937 – 2023) to be credible. Father Egan was a priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster in England who lived in the Ann Arbor area over the past four decades until his death this year.
“Father Pat Egan’s actions disgraced the holy priesthood and, most gravely, betrayed the trust of those whom he victimized and harmed by his immoral actions,” said spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing, David Kerr, October 27.
“To them we say without reservation: this should never have happened to you and we are very sorry that it ever did.”
The abuse deemed credible by the Diocese of Lansing began in 2005 when the complainant was 14-years-old. In each occasion, Father Egan used the pretext of boxing in order to sexually abuse the young male.
The Diocese of Lansing received the complaint on April 20, 2021. At that time, Father Egan was already restricted from priestly ministry — a restriction in place since September 2018. The diocese immediately turned the allegation over to the Michigan Department of the Attorney General. The Attorney General did not prosecute the allegation and, on July 5, 2023, authorized the diocese to investigate the case.
The Diocese of Lansing commissioned a private investigator to investigate the allegation. Before he could be interrogated regarding the allegation, Father Egan died on August 26, 2023. It is the diocese’s understanding that, at the time of his death, Father Egan had long been in a state of cognitive and physical decline.
Once the investigation was completed, the findings of the investigation were referred to the diocese’s Review Board which advises the Bishop of Lansing in his assessment of allegations of sexual abuse of minors.
The Review Board met on October 16, 2023, whereupon they deemed the allegation to be credible. The board’s finding was then accepted by Bishop Earl Boyea. The finding of credibility has been shared with the victim and the Archdiocese of Westminster and will also be forwarded to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.
“The diocese is grateful to the complainant for his courage in bringing this allegation forward and we pray that he finds healing and peace in Jesus Christ,” said Will Bloomfield, General Counsel for the Diocese of Lansing.
In April 2019, the Diocese of Lansing commissioned an independent external audit of its handling of two previous allegations of improper sexual conduct relating to two adult victims of Father Egan. Both allegations also related to boxing. There were no prior allegations concerning minors.
The audit was carried out by the law firm, Honigman LLP, and was led by a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and former attorney for the Department of Justice, Patrick Hurford. His review found that while the diocese correctly dealt with a 2014 claim of misconduct, there was no record of an investigation following an adult male’s allegation of sexual abuse in 1990. In the wake of the Honigman review, the Diocese of Lansing issued a public apology to the victims of Father Egan.
Father Patrick Egan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Westminster in 1966. He worked as a private chaplain, advisor, and radio host in the Ann Arbor area from 1982. He was never incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Lansing.
* The Diocese of Lansing is committed to cooperating with law enforcement and supporting victims of abuse. If anyone has reason to suspect physical, sexual or emotional abuse of any person of any age, please contact Protective Services or the police, as appropriate. If clerical abuse is suspected, contact the office of the Michigan Attorney General Investigation hotline at 844-324-3374. For healing and support, please also contact the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at (888) 308-6252 or email: vac@dioceseoflansing.org.
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Notes:
1. For a cleric to be placed on the Diocese of Lansing’s list of clerics with a "credible allegation" of sexual abuse of a minor means that one or more of the following existed:
• With the assistance of the expert Diocesan Review Board, the Bishop of Lansing determined that the allegation was credible, i.e., that the allegation appeared to be true.
• The accused admitted the allegation;
• The allegation resulted in a criminal conviction;
• The allegation resulted in the accused's removal from ministry or laicization;
• Or the allegation resulted in a civil settlement with either the accused or the Diocese.
2. An extern cleric is a cleric incardinated in one diocese (i.e. belonging to one diocese) who seeks faculties to minister within another diocese on a temporary basis. For example, a priest who is seeking a sabbatical, or wants to undertake formal studies, or to pursue other pastoral or apostolic assignments. The rules governing extern status are set out in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, the internal law of the Catholic Church, in cann. 271 §2-3. Accordingly, extern status is usually requested by the priest’s bishop or religious superior. They submit their request in writing along with a letter of good standing on behalf of the priest. If they come from outside the United States, the priest is also vetted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The application is then adjudicated upon by the local bishop in consultation, usually, with his Vicar for Clergy.