Profile Facts
- Name
- Canon Darius W. Wyszynski
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
- Ordained
- 1958
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 2/17/2013
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Survivors across Michigan have come forward with reports of abuse by Catholic clergy, including Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski, ordained in 1958, of the Diocese of Lansing. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC created this page to document the allegations against Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski and explain survivors’ options.
This profile walks through Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski’s ministry history, the public allegations against him, and the legal framework Michigan provides to survivors. It is written for anyone trying to make sense of what happened to them.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Lansing
The Diocese of Lansing is one of several Michigan dioceses examined during the state Attorney General’s sweeping 2018 investigation into clergy sexual abuse. As a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer for survivors, White Law PLLC has followed those findings closely, including the reports naming Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski.
Michigan’s Catholic landscape spans seven dioceses: Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit. Attorney General reports on these dioceses, including the Diocese of Lansing, have brought long-buried allegations like those against Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski into public view.
The Allegations Against Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski
Where He Served
Canon Darius W. Wyszynski was ordained in 1958 for the Assumption BVM Province in Wisconsin and was incardinated into the Diocese of Lansing in 1970, according to published diocesan records. He was named an honorary “canon” in 1987 by a diocese in Poland. He died on February 17, 2013, and was first named publicly as credibly accused on the Diocese’s list updated September 27, 2019. He was included in the Michigan Attorney General’s December 16, 2024 report on the Diocese of Lansing.
What Survivors Reported
Per the Attorney General’s report, a man alleged in 2002 that in 1978, when he was 18 and traveling with Wyszynski in Mexico, he walked in on Wyszynski in bed with two boys, and that Wyszynski simply continued his “activities” with them. The man also said Wyszynski had sexually assaulted him on two earlier occasions while he slept. In May 2007, a man reported that Wyszynski sexually abused him at age 10 in 1967 or 1968: his parents had invited the newly arrived parish priest to their home, and while the boy was sick in bed, Wyszynski fondled him under the guise of administering the Sacrament of the Sick.
Wyszynski met with the Diocesan Review Board and denied the allegations; the Board wrote that “in fairness to Father Wyszynski, a complete exoneration should be issued to him immediately.” The Diocese sent the case to the Vatican and restricted his ministry, though the outcome is unclear.
Wyszynski denied the allegations before his death in 2013, so criminal charges can no longer be pursued. Survivors may still explore civil claims against his estate or the Diocese.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
There are two different court systems that can address the abuse Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski is accused of. In a criminal case, prosecutors charge the offender and a conviction can mean incarceration. In a civil case, the survivor sues for damages. These tracks do not depend on each other.
Civil claims over Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski’s alleged abuse can name the priest himself, his estate if he is deceased, and the church institutions behind him. A diocese may face liability if it was aware, or should have been aware, of the risk yet failed to stop the abuse, concealed it, or neglected proper screening and training. Survivors can seek damages for medical and therapy bills, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil claims connected to abuse by Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski must generally be filed within ten years or before the survivor turns 28, whichever comes later. Criminal law is different: Michigan places no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct prosecutions.
The psychological impact of abuse by someone like Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski often delays disclosure for years. Survivors may repress memories or struggle with trauma that makes coming forward extraordinarily difficult. Michigan’s statutes reflect this, but the sooner you explore your rights, the stronger your position.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
If Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski abused you, White Law PLLC is ready to listen. Call (517) 316-1195 for a confidential conversation about your options,. You deserve answers, and you deserve justice.
Your call is private and obligation-free. We will listen to what happened with Father Canon Darius W. Wyszynski, explain Michigan’s legal framework in plain terms, and help you decide on next steps.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.