Profile Facts
- Name
- Martin Ignatius Kalahar
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saginaw
- Ordained
- 1916
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 4/13/1966
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
When a member of the clergy is accused of sexually abusing a child, survivors and their families are often left with painful questions about what happened and what can be done now. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC help Michigan survivors find answers and pursue accountability, no matter how much time has passed.
This page summarizes the accusations against Father Martin Ignatius Kalahar, a priest ordained in 1916 who served in the Diocese of Saginaw and died in 1966. He was publicly named as accused by the diocese in 2019, decades after his death. The information below comes from published diocesan records and the Michigan Attorney General’s Saginaw report. Criminal prosecution is no longer possible, but civil options may still exist for survivors.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Saginaw
The Diocese of Saginaw is one of seven dioceses in Michigan, together with the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Marquette, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Gaylord, and Kalamazoo. Since the Michigan Attorney General opened a statewide clergy abuse investigation in 2018, diocesan reports have surfaced allegations reaching back many decades, including cases like Father Kalahar’s from the early 1960s. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can advise whether a claim from that era may still be pursued.
Kalahar was pastor of Sacred Heart in Birch Run during the time in question. Even when an accused priest died long ago, the diocese that employed him may still face civil liability for how it handled, or failed to handle, complaints.
The Allegations Against Father Martin Ignatius Kalahar
Named Decades After Death
Published records indicate that Martin Ignatius Kalahar was ordained in 1916 for the Grand Rapids diocese and died on April 13, 1966. The Saginaw diocese publicly named him as accused on its list in April 2019, noting that the accusations surfaced after his death. He was also included in the Michigan Attorney General’s June 2026 report on the Diocese of Saginaw.
What the Report Describes
According to the Attorney General’s report, a 63-year-old woman told the diocese in 2014 that Kalahar sexually abused her when she was about 10 years old in 1961. At his invitation, the girl worked in the church cleaning vigil lights. She said Kalahar touched her inappropriately in the sacristy and in the church and kissed her, and that she told her mother, who told her not to tell anyone. She further said Kalahar once led her to his bedroom and showed her his bed, but the housekeeper unexpectedly returned, and she felt the housekeeper had saved her. She also reported that, according to her cousin, another priest had said Kalahar molested children at St. Vincent’s Orphanage in Saginaw.
These are accusations, and Father Kalahar cannot respond to them. Survivors of similar abuse, however, may still seek civil justice against the institutions involved.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Legal action after clergy abuse generally takes one of two forms. A criminal prosecution is brought by the state, must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and can result in imprisonment. A civil lawsuit is brought by the survivor, uses a lower burden of proof, and seeks financial compensation. With Father Kalahar long deceased, only the civil route is available.
Criminal Cases
Criminal cases punish offenders but do not compensate survivors, and they cannot proceed against someone who has died.
Civil Lawsuits
Civil claims can be brought against a deceased abuser’s estate and against the diocese, particularly where church officials received complaints about a priest and failed to act. The Attorney General’s reports, which document what dioceses knew and when, can be valuable evidence in such cases.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil sexual abuse lawsuits generally must be filed within ten years of the abuse or before the survivor turns 28, whichever is later. Michigan places no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges.
For survivors abused as children in the 1960s, these deadlines can seem absolute, yet the details matter: when memories surfaced, what the survivor knew, and which institution is named can all affect the analysis. Trauma frequently delays disclosure for decades, and an attorney can evaluate whether any path forward remains.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Civil damages may cover the cost of therapy and medical care, along with compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress. Claims can name the abuser’s estate and the diocese or institution that knew or should have known of the abuse, failed to prevent it, covered it up, or failed in screening, training, and supervising its priests.
White Law PLLC welcomes Michigan survivors of clergy abuse for confidential consultations. Call (517) 316-1195 to learn about your legal options.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.