Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing


The Catholic Diocese of Lansing is located in Lansing, Michigan. It encompasses an area of including the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw. It is a suffragan diocese of the ecclesiastical province of Detroit.

History

created the Diocese of Lansing May 22, 1937 by taking territory from the Archdiocese of Detroit. In July 1971, Pope Paul VI separated territory from the Lansing Diocese and territory from the Diocese of Grand Rapids to form the new Diocese of Kalamazoo.

Reports of sex abuse

On May 24, 2019, it was revealed that five priests who served in the Diocese of Lansing, as well as the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Kalamazoo were charged with sex abuse. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who charged the priests, stated that four of them have been arrested in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, and the fifth awaits extradition from India. The Diocese of Lansing stated that the priest who was arrested in Florida, Father Vincent DeLorenzo, had eight people accuse him of sexual abuse while serving in the Diocese. DeLorenzo, who is now 80 and who resigned from the Diocese in 2002, is charged with six counts of both first and second degree sexual misconduct and is also undergoing the process of being defrocked. A sixth priest who faces an administrative complaint has had his counseling license suspended by the state.
As of September 27, 2019, the Diocese of Lansing has still not released the list of all priests with credible accusations against them, even though Bishop Boyea has pledged transparency. The alleged coverup has gone on for over 30 years.

Churches

Bishops

Bishops of Lansing

  1. Joseph H. Albers
  2. Alexander M. Zaleski
  3. Kenneth Joseph Povish
  4. Carl Frederick Mengeling
  5. Earl Boyea

    Auxiliary Bishops