Profile Facts
- Name
- Harold Rudolph Feltman
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Ordained
- 1955
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 8/17/2003
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
In 2004, a woman told the Diocese of Grand Rapids that Father Harold Rudolph Feltman had sexually abused her when she was 15 years old in 1960, at St. Simon Parish in Ludington. She said she had sought him out for counseling during a troubled time at home, a time that included sexual abuse by her own father. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers prepared this page to preserve the sourced record on Feltman, who was ordained in 1955, retired in 1989, and died in 2003.
Feltman died on August 17, 2003, so no criminal case can be brought against him now. The sections below explain what was reported and whether Michigan civil law still offers a path to accountability.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Diocese of Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s seven dioceses, alongside the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw. In 2018, the Michigan Attorney General launched a statewide investigation of clergy sexual abuse, and in December 2025 issued a dedicated report on Grand Rapids documenting how the diocese handled allegations over the decades. White Law PLLC serves survivors across Michigan as a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer.
The Feltman account, a vulnerable teenager seeking counseling, reflects how abusers exploited positions of trust. If you were harmed in a Grand Rapids diocese parish, diocesan records may corroborate your experience.
The Allegations Against Father Harold Rudolph Feltman
Where He Served
Per published records, Feltman was ordained in 1955 and served in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, including at St. Simon Parish in Ludington. He retired in 1989 and died on August 17, 2003.
What Survivors Reported
According to published accounts, a woman told the diocese in 2004 that Feltman sexually abused her in 1960, when she was 15, at St. Simon Parish in Ludington. She said she had gone to him for counseling because of difficulties at home, including sexual abuse by her father, and that Feltman’s abuse allegedly continued over a three-month period. Feltman died in 2003, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him; civil claims against his estate or the diocese may still be available.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
The criminal justice system prosecutes offenders on behalf of the public, with imprisonment among the possible penalties. The civil system lets survivors sue for money damages to address their injuries. A civil lawsuit can proceed even when criminal prosecution is impossible.
Feltman died in 2003, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him. That does not end the matter: a civil claim against his estate or the Diocese of Grand Rapids may still be viable.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil sexual abuse claims are generally due within ten years or by the survivor’s 28th birthday, whichever is later. Michigan imposes no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Shame, trauma, and suppressed memories routinely keep survivors silent for decades. Such a delay is understandable and common, and it does not automatically bar a claim, so have an attorney review your facts.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Survivors may be able to sue the abuser’s estate, the parish, or the diocese, especially where the institution knew or should have known of misconduct and failed to prevent it. Damages can include the cost of medical care and therapy, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Call White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195. Your consultation is free and confidential, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.