Profile Facts
- Name
- Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
- Ordained
- 1946
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 1/29/1978
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Survivors across Michigan have come forward with reports of abuse by Catholic clergy, including Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak, ordained in 1946, of the Diocese of Lansing. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC created this page to document the allegations against Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak and explain survivors’ options.
This profile walks through Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak’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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak.
Michigan’s Catholic landscape spans seven dioceses: Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids. Attorney General reports on these dioceses, including the Diocese of Lansing, have brought long-buried allegations like those against Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak into public view.
The Allegations Against Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak
Where He Served
Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak was ordained in 1946 for the Archdiocese of Detroit and became a priest of the Diocese of Lansing when it was created in 1968, according to published diocesan records. He died on January 29, 1978. The Michigan Attorney General’s December 16, 2024 report on the Diocese of Lansing documented four allegations of child sexual abuse against him, all received after his death, and the Diocese’s Review Board deemed the allegations credible.
What Survivors Reported
Per the Attorney General’s report, a woman alleged in 2005 that Wahowiak sexually abused her from 1974 until his death in 1978, when she was between the ages of 5 and 9 and he was assigned to St. Mary’s in Charlotte, Michigan. She said he warned her that her parents might go to hell if she told anyone, that the abuse usually occurred in the rectory bedroom, and that it included oral copulation and attempted penetration; she also said he abused her older sister and two or more other girls. She and her sister reported the abuse to Bishop Povish around 1994, and she said there was no follow-up.
In April 2011, a woman reported that Wahowiak abused her from age 8 through grade school while he was assigned to Assumption/BVM in Detroit. In September 2019, the Diocese learned of an allegation that Wahowiak likely abused a boy from 1976 to 1980 at St. Mary’s, along with the boy’s friend, with anal penetration reported. In March 2022, a woman alleged that Wahowiak fondled her in July 1974 and said she had no doubt he abused many children between 1972 and 1979 at St. Mary’s.
Wahowiak died in 1978, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him. Civil claims against his estate or the dioceses involved may still be available to survivors.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
There are two different court systems that can address the abuse Father Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak 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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak’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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak 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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak 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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak 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 Francis Bartholomew Wahowiak, 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.