Profile Facts
- Name
- Lawrence M. Ventline
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Ordained
- 1976
- Status
- Ministry restricted by diocese
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Father Lawrence M. Ventline, ordained in 1976, served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit and has been accused of the sexual abuse of minors. White Law PLLC’s clergy sexual abuse lawyers stand with Michigan survivors, and this page gathers what public records report about the accusations against Father Lawrence M. Ventline.
The sections that follow cover where Father Lawrence M. Ventline served, what survivors and investigators have reported, and how criminal and civil cases differ in Michigan. Reading them can help you understand your options if you were abused by Father Lawrence M. Ventline.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
The 2018 investigation launched by Michigan’s Attorney General put every diocese in the state under the microscope, the Archdiocese of Detroit included. Anyone abused by Father Lawrence M. Ventline can speak with a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer at White Law PLLC about what the investigation uncovered.
Across Michigan’s seven dioceses (Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette), investigators documented patterns of abuse and institutional failure stretching back decades. The Archdiocese of Detroit portion of that record is relevant to understanding the accusations against Father Lawrence M. Ventline.
The Allegations Against Father Lawrence M. Ventline
Where He Served
Lawrence M. Ventline was ordained in 1976 and served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, per published diocesan records. After an abuse allegation reached the Archdiocese in 2016, the complaint was referred to the Oakland County prosecutor, a canonical review was conducted, and Ventline was restricted from public ministry. He was included on the Archdiocese’s June 10, 2019 list of clergy credibly accused of abuse, which noted he is prohibited from presenting himself as a priest, wearing clerical attire, or exercising any church ministry.
What Survivors Reported
On May 24, 2019, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Ventline faced an administrative complaint and that his license as a professional educationally limited counselor had been summarily suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The complaint alleged that Ventline sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy three times in a church sacristy in 1989 and 1990, when Ventline was pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion. Ventline denied the allegations. His counseling license was revoked on September 6, 2019, after he failed to file a formal response, and he was fined $5,000.
Separately, a September 30, 2019 news report stated that Ventline had been charged with indecent exposure in Bad Axe earlier that summer; on January 23, 2020, he pleaded no contest to that charge, which does not constitute an admission of guilt, and the court entered a conviction and sentenced him to ten days in jail. In her October 5, 2020 update, the Attorney General noted that Ventline faced three separate reports of sexual abuse of a minor, that the statute of limitations had expired on each, and that removing his counseling license ensured he could not legally counsel children.
The Attorney General’s office has indicated that criminal prosecution of the abuse reports is barred by the statute of limitations. Civil claims, however, remain a separate path that survivors can explore.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
A criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit do different jobs for survivors of Father Lawrence M. Ventline’s alleged abuse. Criminal cases are filed by prosecutors and can put an offender behind bars. Civil cases are filed by survivors themselves and pursue financial recovery. One does not require the other.
Civil liability for the abuse Father Lawrence M. Ventline is accused of can extend past the priest to his estate and to the diocese or order that employed him. Institutions are answerable when they knew or should have known of the risk, failed to prevent abuse, concealed allegations, or fell short on screening and training. Survivors may recover medical and therapy expenses, damages for pain and suffering, and compensation for emotional distress.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
For anyone abused by Father Lawrence M. Ventline, Michigan law sets specific deadlines for civil claims. Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, a survivor generally has ten years from the abuse, or until turning 28, whichever is later, to file suit. For first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Michigan imposes no time limit.
It is common for survivors abused by priests such as Father Lawrence M. Ventline to delay reporting. Psychological trauma can suppress memories for decades, and many victims only connect their suffering to the abuse much later in life. The law’s extended timelines reflect that understanding, but acting sooner preserves more options.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
White Law PLLC represents Michigan survivors in clergy abuse cases like the one involving Father Lawrence M. Ventline. Reach us at (517) 316-1195 for a private consultation. Taking the first step is often the hardest, we will handle it with care.
Speaking with our team is confidential and carries no obligation. We can assess how the reported conduct of Father Lawrence M. Ventline fits Michigan law and what remedies may be available to you.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.