Profile Facts
- Name
- Anthony J. Conti
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Ordained
- 1976
- Status
- Sued
- Died
- 10/9/2016
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Father Anthony J. Conti, known for years as A. J. “Anthony” Helinski, was removed from ministry in 2002 after allegations that he had sexually abused a boy, and was later laicized and named in a civil lawsuit. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers built this page from the public record so Michigan survivors can understand what the Archdiocese of Detroit has disclosed about him.
Conti died in 2016, but a priest’s death does not erase what survivors endured, or the institutions’ responsibility. Read on for the documented timeline of his case and the civil options Michigan law may still offer.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
As Michigan’s largest diocese, the Archdiocese of Detroit, one of seven in the state along with Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, has faced intense scrutiny since the Michigan Attorney General opened a statewide clergy-abuse investigation in 2018. The archdiocese has since published a list of credibly accused priests, and Conti’s name appears on it. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can explain how those disclosures affect a potential claim.
Some accused priests served under different names, which can make connecting the dots difficult for survivors. An attorney experienced in these cases knows how to trace assignment histories and diocesan records.
The Allegations Against Father Anthony J. Conti
Where He Served
Published records indicate that Conti, ordained in 1976, was known as A. J. “Anthony” Helinski through at least 1988. In 2002 he was removed from ministry after allegations of sexual misconduct with a boy under 18, dating back more than 20 years, and was permanently banned from ministry. He was named in a civil suit in 2004 and laicized in June 2006. Conti died on October 9, 2016, and his name was included on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused priests published June 10, 2019.
What Survivors Reported
The allegation that ended Conti’s ministry involved sexual misconduct with a boy under the age of 18, alleged to have occurred more than two decades before it was reported. A civil lawsuit naming Conti followed in 2004. Because Conti is deceased, he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him; however, survivors may still be able to seek civil accountability from his estate or from the archdiocese.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Criminal cases punish offenders on behalf of the public; civil lawsuits compensate survivors for what was taken from them. The two are independent, and a civil claim can go forward even if criminal charges were never filed, or are no longer possible.
Conti was never criminally prosecuted, and his death in 2016 means he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him. But a prior civil suit named him as a defendant, and similar civil claims against the archdiocese or his estate may still be viable depending on the facts.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan’s civil deadline for sexual abuse claims is set by Legislature §600.5805: generally ten years, or until the survivor turns 28, whichever is later. First-degree criminal sexual conduct, by contrast, has no statute of limitations in Michigan.
It is common for survivors to need decades before they can speak about abuse by a priest. Shame, deference to the Church, and repressed memory all contribute to the delay. An attorney can determine whether your claim still falls within the allowable window.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Claims may be filed against the abuser’s estate, the archdiocese, or both, particularly if officials knew or should have known of earlier complaints yet failed to remove the priest, concealed the allegations, or skipped proper screening and training. Damages can include the cost of medical care and therapy, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
To explore your options privately, contact White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195. Our office is at, consultations cost nothing, and there is no fee unless we win your case.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.