Profile Facts
- Name
- Leroy E. White
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
- Ordained
- 1956
- Status
- Accused
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Survivors across Michigan have come forward with reports of abuse by Catholic clergy, including Father Leroy E. White, ordained in 1956, of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC created this page to document the allegations against Father Leroy E. White and explain survivors’ options.
This profile walks through Father Leroy E. White’s ministry history, the public allegations against him, and the legal framework Michigan provides to survivors. It is written for anyone trying to make sense of what happened to them.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Kalamazoo
The Diocese of Kalamazoo is one of several Michigan dioceses examined during the state Attorney General’s sweeping 2018 investigation into clergy sexual abuse. As a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer for survivors, White Law PLLC has followed those findings closely, including the reports naming Father Leroy E. White.
Michigan’s Catholic landscape spans seven dioceses: Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing. Attorney General reports on these dioceses, including the Diocese of Kalamazoo, have brought long-buried allegations like those against Father Leroy E. White into public view.
The Allegations Against Father Leroy E. White
Where He Served
Leroy E. White was ordained in 1956 for the Diocese of Lansing and became a priest of the Diocese of Kalamazoo when it was established in December 1970, per published diocesan records. After treatment out of state from October 1991 to March 1992, which he was asked to leave for noncompliance, he returned to ministry in April 1992 with required counseling, retired in March 1994, and later worked in the Lansing diocese. He was removed again in 2002 over the 1991 allegations; in 2004 the Vatican declined a penal process but allowed restricted ministry in Lansing. He was prohibited from working in the Kalamazoo diocese and, in 2005, from public ministry in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was included on the Kalamazoo diocese’s April 2024 list of those forbidden to work with children and in the Michigan Attorney General’s May 22, 2024 report on the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
What Survivors Reported
According to published records, White was accused in 1991 of touching the breasts of teenage girls and women, with similar allegations following in January 1992.
The allegations against White remain accusations. Survivors may discuss criminal and civil options with an attorney.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
There are two different court systems that can address the abuse Father Leroy E. White is accused of. In a criminal case, prosecutors charge the offender and a conviction can mean incarceration. In a civil case, the survivor sues for damages. These tracks do not depend on each other.
Civil claims over Father Leroy E. White’s alleged abuse can name the priest himself, his estate if he is deceased, and the church institutions behind him. A diocese may face liability if it was aware, or should have been aware, of the risk yet failed to stop the abuse, concealed it, or neglected proper screening and training. Survivors can seek damages for medical and therapy bills, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil claims connected to abuse by Father Leroy E. White must generally be filed within ten years or before the survivor turns 28, whichever comes later. Criminal law is different: Michigan places no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct prosecutions.
The psychological impact of abuse by someone like Father Leroy E. White often delays disclosure for years. Survivors may repress memories or struggle with trauma that makes coming forward extraordinarily difficult. Michigan’s statutes reflect this, but the sooner you explore your rights, the stronger your position.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
If Father Leroy E. White abused you, White Law PLLC is ready to listen. Call (517) 316-1195 for a confidential conversation about your options,. You deserve answers, and you deserve justice.
Your call is private and obligation-free. We will listen to what happened with Father Leroy E. White, explain Michigan’s legal framework in plain terms, and help you decide on next steps.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.