Profile Facts
- Name
- Leo Olschausken
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
- Order
- OPraem
- Ordained
- 1948
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 7/21/1987
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
When Michigan survivors decide to hold the church accountable, the clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC are ready to act. We treat every survivor’s account with seriousness and respect, and we never share your information without permission.
Father Leo Olschausken was a Norbertine priest (OPraem) ordained in 1948 whose assignments spanned Chicago, northern Michigan, and Illinois. He was first publicly named as accused by the Diocese of Gaylord in 2018. Below is what the public record shows, along with guidance on Michigan legal options for survivors.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Gaylord
Northern Michigan’s Diocese of Gaylord is one of seven dioceses in the state, together with the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Marquette. Michigan’s Attorney General launched a statewide clergy-abuse investigation in 2018, and the resulting Gaylord report, released in January 2024, documented allegations against priests who served there.
A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors connect the findings in reports like these to a viable civil claim, even when the priest in question served in several different dioceses.
The Allegations Against Father Leo Olschausken
From Lithuania to the Midwest
Published records indicate that Olschausken was from Lithuania and arrived in Chicago in 1958. He was assigned to St. Michael’s Lithuanian Church in Chicago, then served as a chaplain from 1961 to 1974 in the Diocese of Grand Rapids at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac. He was first named publicly as accused on the Diocese of Gaylord’s list on November 10, 2018, where his name was erroneously spelled “Olschaysken.” The diocese noted that he had been removed and returned to his religious order in 1974.
Parish History Raises Questions
According to a parish history for St. Mary of the Assumption in Coal City, Illinois, in the Diocese of Joliet, Olschausken was assigned there from 1974 until his death on July 21, 1987. The history notes that “Father Leo endeared himself to the Altar Servers. These boys were his special charge. They became very close to him and he to them.” He was included in the Michigan Attorney General’s January 8, 2024 Gaylord report. Because he died in 1987, criminal charges are no longer possible, but civil claims against his order or the dioceses where he served may still be pursued.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Think of criminal and civil cases as two separate paths to justice. The criminal path is controlled by prosecutors and can put an offender behind bars. The civil path belongs to the survivor and seeks monetary damages for the injuries suffered, and it can move forward with or without a criminal case.
Survivors may also have claims against the diocese or religious order that assigned the priest, particularly if church officials knew or should have known of the risk and failed to act, covered up complaints, or neglected proper screening and training.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan law sets the civil deadline for childhood sexual abuse claims at ten years, or until the survivor reaches age 28, whichever is later, under MCL §600.5805. First-degree criminal sexual conduct carries no statute of limitations. Lawmakers extended the civil window precisely because trauma and memory suppression so often prevent survivors from reporting for many years.
Still, calculating the exact deadline requires a careful look at the facts, so speaking with an attorney early is the best way to keep your options open.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
If Father Leo Olschausken or another member of the clergy harmed you or a loved one, Michigan law may entitle you to compensation for medical and therapy expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. White Law PLLC has the experience to take on dioceses and religious orders, and we do it while protecting your privacy at every step.
Call (517) 316-1195 for a confidential consultation, or visit us at . We will hear your story and explain what justice could look like for you.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.