Profile Facts
- Name
- Bernard Van der Schueren
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
- Order
- SJ
- Ordained
- 1954
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 7/25/2009
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC stand with Michigan survivors who were abused by Father Bernard Van der Schueren. This profile collects what has been publicly reported about the accusations against him.
Below, we summarize Father Schueren’s assignments, the reported abuse, and the legal options Michigan survivors still have. He died on 7/25/2009, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him, but a civil case against his estate or the institutions involved may still be possible.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Marquette
Father Bernard Van der Schueren served in the Diocese of Marquette, one of seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan. Statewide, the Church is organized into the Archdiocese of Detroit plus the dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, the system in which Father Schueren ministered.
The Michigan Attorney General’s 2018 investigation into clergy abuse examined files from every diocese in the state, an effort that parallels the public reporting on Father Schueren. Survivors reading reports like these often ask what the diocese knew, a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can investigate the Diocese of Marquette’s records and response regarding Father Schueren.
The Allegations Against Father Bernard Van der Schueren
Where He Served
Father Bernard Van der Schueren was a Belgian-born Jesuit priest ordained in 1954. He died on July 25, 2009. Years later, the Diocese of Marquette announced on November 15, 2013, that it had received a credible allegation that ‘Fr. Ben’ had abused a minor in 1989 while filling in at St. Michael Parish in Marquette.
What Survivors Reported
According to the Michigan Attorney General’s October 2022 report, the allegation involved the sexual abuse of a boy, age 10 or 11, during the summers of 1987 and 1988, dates that differ slightly from the diocese’s announcement. Records note that the allegation was reported both to the Jesuits and to the county prosecutor’s office. Van der Schueren’s name was added to the Jesuits’ Midwest Province list of accused clergy on December 17, 2018.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Abuse by a member of the clergy can trigger two separate legal processes, a criminal case and a civil lawsuit, and both may matter to survivors of Father Schueren. Prosecutors handle criminal charges, which may lead to incarceration, while survivors themselves file civil suits seeking damages, as those harmed by Father Schueren may do.
Criminal Cases
Criminal prosecution, the track that could apply to the allegations against Father Schueren, requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt; penalties can include imprisonment and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Filing a Civil Case
In civil court, survivors of Father Schueren sue for damages under a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, a lower bar than in criminal court.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Compiled Laws §600.5805, civil claims for childhood sexual abuse are generally subject to a ten-year limitations period, running until the survivor turns 28, the rule that governs claims against Father Schueren.
For first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Michigan imposes no time limit at all. And because trauma and memory loss often delay reporting for years or decades, survivors of Father Schueren should not assume their time has run out, an attorney can evaluate the timeline.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Survivors may be able to sue his estate as well as the institutions that employed him, including the Diocese of Marquette, if the Church knew or should have known about the danger Father Schueren posed, failed to prevent the abuse, covered it up, or hired and supervised him negligently.
Survivors of Father Schueren may recover compensation for medical and therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. White Law PLLC welcomes confidential inquiries at (517) 316-1195.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.