Profile Facts
- Name
- Leonard F. Wilkuski
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
- Ordained
- 1963
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 1/25/2022
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Public records name Father Leonard F. Wilkuski, ordained in 1963, a priest who served in the Diocese of Saginaw, as accused of sexually abusing minors. As clergy sexual abuse lawyers, the team at White Law PLLC supports Michigan survivors seeking answers about Father Leonard F. Wilkuski and others like him.
We have organized this profile around the questions survivors ask most: who Father Leonard F. Wilkuski was, where he worked, what the allegations involve, and what Michigan law allows. If any of this reflects your own experience, support is available.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Saginaw
When Michigan’s Attorney General opened a statewide investigation of clergy abuse in 2018, the Diocese of Saginaw came under scrutiny along with the rest of the state’s dioceses. White Law PLLC serves as a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer for people harmed in settings like the ones where Father Leonard F. Wilkuski served.
From the Archdiocese of Detroit to the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan’s seven dioceses (Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids) have all been examined for clergy abuse. The report on the Diocese of Saginaw adds context to the allegations described here against Father Leonard F. Wilkuski.
The Allegations Against Father Leonard F. Wilkuski
Where He Served
Leonard F. Wilkuski was ordained in 1963 and served as a priest of the Diocese of Saginaw, per published diocesan records. He resigned from his parish and was placed on leave in May 2002 after acknowledging an allegation of sexual misconduct from much earlier in his ministry, and he was laicized on February 17, 2006. He was included on the Diocese’s 2019 list of accused clergy and in the Michigan Attorney General’s June 25, 2026 report on the Diocese of Saginaw. He died on January 25, 2022.
What Survivors Reported
Per the Attorney General’s report, four people met with the Diocese in January 1987 to raise concerns about Wilkuski’s involvement with boys, including taking them to the parish rectory during the school day, reports that he “hit on them,” an account that he touched the testicles of a boy he was visiting in a hospital, and claims he offered boys alcohol. In 1990, the Diocese received an allegation that Wilkuski told a 30-year-old man he was counseling in 1986 that he needed to inspect his genitals; Wilkuski acknowledged that incident.
His personnel file from July 1990 contained further allegations, including that he asked a ninth-grade boy whether he was circumcised and insisted on showing the boy his own circumcision, that he exposed himself to another boy, and that he placed his hand on a hospitalized boy’s genitals; the boy’s mother had spoken with Bishop Untener about the incidents as early as 1985, and Untener placed restrictions on Wilkuski in 1990 and sent him for evaluation. In April 2002, an allegation surfaced that Wilkuski sexually abused an altar boy between 1966 and 1968, when the boy was 10 to 12, at St. Mark’s in Au Gres, the alleged victim said his older brother was also abused, and Untener suspended Wilkuski’s faculties. Another allegation emerged in 2004 of abuse of a boy from 1970 to 1973 while Wilkuski was pastor of St. Andrew’s in Saginaw.
Wilkuski died in 2022, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him. Civil claims against his estate or the Diocese of Saginaw may still be available.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
After abuse by a priest like Father Leonard F. Wilkuski, Michigan survivors have two legal avenues to consider. The criminal system punishes offenders through prosecution by the state. The civil system lets survivors seek money damages directly. Either option can move forward on its own.
In a civil case, a survivor may sue Father Leonard F. Wilkuski personally, and if he has died, his estate, as well as the diocese or religious order that employed him. Institutions can be held liable when they knew or should have known about the danger, failed to prevent the abuse, covered it up, or screened and trained priests poorly. Recoverable damages can include medical and therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Time limits matter for survivors of Father Leonard F. Wilkuski, and Michigan’s are specific. Michigan Legislature §600.5805 gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse ten years, or until age 28, to file a civil case. On the criminal side, there is no statute of limitations for first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Many survivors of clergy like Father Leonard F. Wilkuski do not come forward for years or decades. Trauma can bury memories, and shame or fear can silence victims well into adulthood. Michigan courts and lawmakers recognize this reality, which is why the extended civil window exists, and why speaking with a lawyer promptly still matters.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Survivors of Father Leonard F. Wilkuski’s alleged abuse do not have to carry this alone. Contact White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195 to discuss your case confidentially. Our office is located at, and we serve clients across Michigan.
Consultations are confidential, with no strings attached. Let an attorney who understands clergy abuse cases evaluate your experience with Father Leonard F. Wilkuski and map out your options.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.