Profile Facts
- Name
- Robert Gordon Smith
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
- Ordained
- 1945
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 6/24/1980
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC help survivors of Father Robert Gordon Smith pursue accountability. This page compiles the publicly reported allegations against him.
Below, we summarize Father Smith’s assignments, the reported abuse, and the legal options Michigan survivors still have. He died on 6/24/1980, so he is no longer alive for anyone to pursue criminal charges against him, but a civil case against his estate or the institutions involved may still be possible.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Gaylord
Father Robert Gordon Smith served in the Diocese of Gaylord, one of seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan. Across Michigan, Catholic life is organized into seven dioceses: Detroit, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, one of which assigned Father Smith.
In 2018 the Michigan Attorney General launched a statewide investigation into clergy sexual abuse, seizing records from all seven dioceses, the kind of review that surfaced reports like those against Father Smith. The findings underscored why survivors need counsel: a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can determine whether the Diocese of Gaylord protected Father Smith instead of children.
The Allegations Against Father Robert Gordon Smith
Where He Served
Father Robert Gordon Smith, ordained in 1945 for the Diocese of Gaylord, became a priest of the Diocese of Saginaw when it was created in 1971. He died on June 24, 1980.
What Survivors Reported
According to published records, Smith was first named publicly as credibly accused on the Gaylord diocese’s list on November 10, 2018, and later on the Saginaw diocese’s list on April 10, 2019, which noted he had previously been removed from public ministry. The reports against him span decades: accused in 1957 of molesting a 13-year-old altar boy; a 1997 report of abuse when the victim was a boy; a 2004 report of abuse beginning when the boy was 10 in 1965 or 1966, allegedly including anal sex and forced sex with other boys; another 2004 report of abuse from 1970 to 1972 beginning at age 14; a 2018 report of abuse in Vassar in 1955 at age 13; a December 2018 allegation of abuse of a boy ages 7 to 10 from 1968 to 1971 in Onaway; and a March 2020 report of abuse at age 6 in 1969. He is included in the Michigan Attorney General’s June 25, 2026 report on the Diocese of Saginaw.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Abuse by a member of the clergy can trigger two separate legal processes, a criminal case and a civil lawsuit, and both may matter to survivors of Father Smith. The state pursues criminal cases to punish the offender, while civil lawsuits aim to compensate the survivor for what was taken from them, the dual framework surrounding Father Smith’s case.
Criminal Cases
In a criminal case arising from reports like those against Father Smith, the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and a conviction can mean prison, fines, and sex-offender registration.
Filing a Civil Case
Through a civil claim, survivors of Father Smith can hold both the abuser and the institutions that enabled him financially accountable.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Compiled Laws §600.5805, civil claims for childhood sexual abuse are generally subject to a ten-year limitations period, running until the survivor turns 28, the rule that governs claims against Father Smith.
There is no statute of limitations for first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Survivors of Father Smith also frequently need years to process trauma before coming forward, so even older cases deserve a legal review.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Liability can extend past his estate to the diocese itself. If the Diocese of Gaylord knew or should have known Father Smith posed a risk, and failed to prevent the abuse, buried complaints, or supervised him carelessly, survivors can name the institution in the suit.
Available damages can cover medical and therapy bills, pain and suffering, and emotional distress for survivors of Father Smith. Call White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195 for a confidential case review.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.