Profile Facts
- Name
- Robert Spader
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Order
- OFM Cap
- Ordained
- 1964
- Status
- Accused
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
If Father Robert Spader abused you or someone you love, the clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC are here to help. This profile summarizes what has been publicly reported about him.
We have organized this page around Father Spader’s assignments, the reported misconduct, and the remedies Michigan law provides. With no reported date of death, the possibility of criminal charges remains, as does the right to file a civil case for damages.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Records place Father Robert Spader in the Archdiocese of Detroit, one of the seven dioceses that serve Michigan Catholics. The seven, Detroit, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, span the state where Father Spader served.
The 2018 Attorney General investigation into clergy sexual abuse pulled records from dioceses across the entire state, shedding light on cases such as Father Spader’s. What investigators uncovered makes legal guidance essential, and a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can assess whether the Archdiocese of Detroit bears responsibility for what Father Spader is reported to have done.
The Allegations Against Father Robert Spader
His Ministry
Father Robert Spader, a Capuchin Franciscan friar ordained in 1964 (as ‘Father Edwin’ Spader), later left the order.
What the Record Shows
According to published records, Spader was identified in the June 18, 2013 Report of the Audit and Review of the Files of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph as a former friar with confirmed reports of the sexual abuse of minors. The report provides no further details about the claims. The order’s 2025 list notes that Spader was on medical leave in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, from August 1988 to May 1989, the town where the Servants of the Paraclete operated a treatment center for troubled priests.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
A single report of abuse can set two kinds of cases in motion, and they do not depend on one another, including where Father Spader is concerned. Criminal courts decide guilt and impose sentences; civil courts decide liability and award damages to survivors, including survivors of Father Spader.
The Criminal Process
Prosecutors decide whether to file criminal charges connected to Father Spader, and a conviction can bring prison time, fines, and registration, though never payment to the survivor.
Civil Lawsuits
A civil lawsuit by a survivor of Father Spader is filed by the survivor, uses the lower ‘preponderance of the evidence’ standard, and can result in money damages.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan legislators set the civil filing deadline at MCL §600.5805: generally ten years, extending to the survivor’s 28th birthday, for claims like those against Father Spader.
Michigan places no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. Given how trauma and suppressed memories can postpone disclosure, survivors abused by Father Spader decades ago should still seek advice.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Beyond him, survivors can pursue the institutions that put him in contact with children. Where the Archdiocese of Detroit knew or should have known about Father Spader, failed to act, hid the truth, or failed to screen and train, it may share legal responsibility.
Compensation for survivors of Father Spader may include medical and therapy expenses, damages for pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Reach White Law PLLC at (517) 316-1195 or in person at .
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.