Profile Facts
- Name
- Robert Witkowski
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Ordained
- 1961
- Status
- Sued
- Died
- 5/10/2021
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Accusations of child sexual abuse have been leveled against Father Robert Witkowski, ordained in 1961, of the Archdiocese of Detroit. As clergy sexual abuse lawyers serving survivors across Michigan, White Law PLLC has prepared this profile to lay out the reported allegations against Father Robert Witkowski and the legal paths that may be open.
Below you will find the assignments and status attributed to Father Robert Witkowski, a plain-language account of the reported abuse, and an overview of how Michigan law treats these cases. If Father Robert Witkowski harmed you or someone you love, you do not have to face what comes next alone.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Michigan’s Attorney General began investigating clergy sexual abuse across the state in 2018, and the Archdiocese of Detroit was part of that review. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer at White Law PLLC can explain how the resulting reports relate to the accusations against Father Robert Witkowski.
Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw: those are Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses. The Attorney General’s investigation generated report after report on them, and the Archdiocese of Detroit report contributes to what is publicly known about Father Robert Witkowski.
The Allegations Against Father Robert Witkowski
Where He Served
Robert Witkowski was ordained in 1961 and served in the Archdiocese of Detroit, per published diocesan records. He retired in 2013 and was restricted from public ministry in October 2018 because of credible allegations that he sexually abused minors early in his career. He died on May 10, 2021.
What Survivors Reported
According to published records, a lawsuit filed in New Jersey in December 2019 alleged that Witkowski, along with Rev. Thomas Ganley, abused the plaintiff and another boy at St. Cecilia’s in Iselin, New Jersey, in the early 1990s.
The claims against Witkowski were made in a civil lawsuit. Because he died in 2021, criminal charges are no longer possible, but civil claims against his estate or the Archdiocese may remain open.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Understanding the split between criminal and civil cases matters for anyone abused by Father Robert Witkowski. The state brings criminal charges to punish wrongdoing; the survivor brings a civil suit to recover losses. Both can be explored, and neither blocks the other.
Beyond suing Father Robert Witkowski himself, or his estate if he has passed away, survivors can pursue the diocese or religious order that supervised him. Church institutions face exposure when they knew or should have known about abusive priests, failed to prevent the harm, covered up complaints, or provided poor screening and training. A successful claim can yield damages for medical and therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Survivors of Father Robert Witkowski considering a civil claim should know Michigan Legislature §600.5805: the general rule is ten years from the abuse or until age 28, whichever is later. For first-degree criminal charges, Michigan law sets no time limit whatsoever.
Decades often pass before a survivor of Father Robert Witkowski’s alleged abuse feels able to report. Trauma and memory loss are well-documented effects of childhood sexual abuse, and they explain why so many claims surface in adulthood. Michigan’s timeframes account for this, though consulting counsel early is always wise.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
You have rights if Father Robert Witkowski harmed you, and White Law PLLC can help you assert them. Call (517) 316-1195 today for a confidential case review. We are located at and represent survivors statewide.
Reaching out carries no obligation. A knowledgeable attorney will review the allegations against Father Robert Witkowski as they relate to your experience and explain what justice could look like.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.