Profile Facts
- Name
- James Andrew Marron
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
- Order
- CSSp
- Ordained
- 1927
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 11/17/1987
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Father James Andrew Marron spent forty years as a missionary in Tanzania before returning to Michigan, where he was later accused of sexually abusing minors. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC compiled this profile from the public record.
Marron was an elderly hospital chaplain in Bay City when the reported abuse occurred. Survivors who encountered him in Michigan parishes or hospitals may still be able to pursue a civil claim, and our firm can evaluate that possibility confidentially.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Saginaw
The Diocese of Saginaw is one of Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses, alongside the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Gaylord, Marquette, and Kalamazoo. The Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation, opened in 2018, released its report on the Diocese of Saginaw in June 2026.
That report included the allegations against Father Marron. Survivors in the Saginaw diocese can turn to a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer for guidance on translating those findings into a legal claim.
The Allegations Against Father James Andrew Marron
From Tanzania to Bay City
Published records indicate that Marron was ordained in 1927 for the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and served as a missionary in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, for forty years beginning in 1928. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Saginaw in 1979. Per his obituary, he worked as a hospital chaplain in Bay City at age 65, spent two years in Ferndale, then returned to Bay City. He retired in 1986 to Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and died on November 17, 1987. The Saginaw diocese named him publicly as accused on its list of April 10, 2019.
The 2026 Attorney General Report
The Michigan Attorney General’s June 2026 report on the Diocese of Saginaw states that the diocese received a report in 2018 that Marron groped a girl’s breasts and genitals from 1980 to 1984, beginning when she was in eighth grade. His accuser described Marron as an elderly priest at St. Joseph’s in Bay City who groped girls and boys, and said people referred to him by a crude nickname.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Father Marron died in 1987, so criminal charges are no longer an option in his case. The criminal system’s window closed with his passing.
Civil litigation remains a separate avenue. A survivor may bring claims against his estate or against the diocese, particularly if church officials received the 2018-era report and failed to act on what they learned about his conduct.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil sexual abuse lawsuits are generally due within ten years of the abuse or by the survivor’s 28th birthday, whichever comes later. First-degree criminal sexual conduct has no statute of limitations under Michigan law.
Abuse from the early 1980s raises hard questions about timing, but survivors should not draw conclusions on their own. The law in this area keeps developing, and a lawyer’s review is the reliable way to learn your deadline.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
White Law PLLC is available to Michigan survivors at (517) 316-1195 for a free, confidential case evaluation. Visit us at .
No survivor should have to carry this alone. We will treat your account with care and give you straight answers about your rights.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.