Profile Facts
- Name
- Lawrence A. Edwards
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Ordained
- 1939
- Status
- Sued
- Died
- 3/23/1999
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
In May 2004, a man filed a lawsuit accusing Father Lawrence A. Edwards of molesting him as a boy, ages 10 to 12, at St. Mary’s in Milford. The suit alleged there were numerous other victims and suggested the Archdiocese of Detroit may have known about Edwards’s behavior as early as 1967. Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers created this page to collect the sourced record on Edwards, who was ordained in 1939, retired in 1985, and died in 1999.
Edwards died on March 23, 1999, so criminal charges can no longer be pursued against him. Civil claims against his estate or the archdiocese may still be possible, as the sections below explain.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses, the Archdiocese of Detroit plus the dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, all came under scrutiny when the Michigan Attorney General launched a statewide clergy-abuse investigation in 2018. Investigators seized diocesan files and published reports naming hundreds of accused priests. White Law PLLC serves survivors across the state as a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer.
The Edwards lawsuit raises the question of what the archdiocese knew in 1967 and what it did afterward. Survivors abused in Detroit-area parishes, including suburban communities like Milford, are still coming forward, and diocesan records may contain answers.
The Allegations Against Father Lawrence A. Edwards
Where He Served
Published records indicate that Edwards was ordained in 1939 and served in the Archdiocese of Detroit, including an assignment at St. Mary’s in Milford. He retired in 1985 and died on March 23, 1999.
What Survivors Reported
According to published accounts, a man sued in May 2004 alleging that Edwards molested him as a boy, ages 10 to 12, at St. Mary’s in Milford. The lawsuit also stated that there were numerous other victims. The suit further alleged that the archdiocese may have known of Edwards’s behavior as early as 1967, nearly two decades before his retirement. Because Edwards died in 1999, he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him, but civil remedies against his estate or the archdiocese may remain.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
The state brings a criminal case to punish the offender, with prison as a possible outcome. The survivor brings a civil case to recover compensation for the harm endured. These are separate proceedings, and a civil lawsuit can go forward even where a criminal prosecution cannot.
Edwards died in 1999, so criminal prosecution of him is no longer possible. A civil action naming his estate or the Archdiocese of Detroit, however, may still be viable under Michigan law.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, survivors generally have ten years from the abuse, or until age 28, whichever is later, to file a civil claim. Michigan law places no time limit on prosecuting first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Trauma and suppressed memories often delay disclosure for years or decades. That delay is common, and it does not automatically close the door, an attorney can evaluate the deadlines that apply to your case.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
An institution that knew or should have known about abuse, and failed to remove the priest, warn families, or report to police, can be held liable alongside the abuser’s estate. Survivors may recover damages for medical and therapy bills, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Call White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195 for a free, confidential consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.