Profile Facts
- Name
- John Whalen Patrick McGee
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Ordained
- 1943
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 6/1/1987
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Father John Whalen Patrick McGee served in the Diocese of Grand Rapids and was accused of sexually abusing a girl over many years, beginning when she was in fourth grade. White Law PLLC’s clergy sexual abuse lawyers assembled this profile from the public record.
The reported abuse allegedly continued until the survivor was 21, a pattern that kept her silent for decades. Survivors of long-term abuse by clergy should know that the length of the abuse does not diminish their right to seek justice.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Diocese of Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s seven dioceses, together with the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Lansing, Saginaw, Gaylord, Marquette, and Kalamazoo. In December 2025, the Michigan Attorney General released its report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids as part of the statewide clergy abuse investigation that began in 2018.
Father McGee was named as accused in that report. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors understand the report’s contents and whether they support a civil claim.
The Allegations Against Father John Whalen Patrick McGee
A Report Made in 2021
According to published records, which summarizes the Attorney General’s December 2025 report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids, a woman told the diocese in 2021 that McGee, ordained in 1943, had sexually abused her beginning when she was a fourth-grader in 1957 and continuing until she was 21.
How the Abuse Reportedly Began
The woman said it began after her dog died and her family took her to McGee for comfort. She said she would go to the rectory after school and stay until he drove her home late at night. McGee died on June 1, 1987.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Father McGee died in 1987, so criminal prosecution is not possible. Decades have passed since his death, closing the criminal path entirely.
Civil claims, however, do not depend on the abuser being alive. Survivors may pursue claims against the diocese, especially where the institution placed a priest in a position of trust over children and failed to detect or stop prolonged abuse.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan Legislature §600.5805 generally requires civil sexual abuse claims to be filed within ten years of the abuse or before the survivor turns 28, whichever is later. Michigan law imposes no statute of limitations for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Long-running abuse that spans childhood into adulthood creates complicated timing questions, and the answer is not always no. A lawyer can map the survivor’s timeline against the current law.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Survivors abused by Father McGee can contact White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195 for a free, confidential consultation. We are located at .
It is never too late to be heard. Our attorneys will listen with compassion and advise you honestly about your legal options.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.