Profile Facts
- Name
- Stephen William Thomsen
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
- Ordained
- 1986
- Status
- Accused
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
If Father Stephen William Thomsen 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.
Below, we summarize Father Thomsen’s assignments, the reported abuse, and the legal options Michigan survivors still have. No public record lists his death, so criminal charges may still be possible alongside a civil claim. An attorney can assess which path fits a survivor’s situation.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Lansing
Father Stephen William Thomsen served in the Diocese of Lansing, one of seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan. Statewide, the Church is organized into the Archdiocese of Detroit plus the dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, and Saginaw, the system in which Father Thomsen ministered.
The Michigan Attorney General’s 2018 investigation into clergy abuse examined files from every diocese in the state, an effort that parallels the public reporting on Father Thomsen. Survivors reading reports like these often ask what the diocese knew, a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can investigate the Diocese of Lansing’s records and response regarding Father Thomsen.
The Allegations Against Father Stephen William Thomsen
Where He Served
Father Stephen William Thomsen, a native of Samoa, was ordained in 1986 for the Diocese of Lansing. He was assigned to St. Patrick’s in Brighton, then from 1987 to 1989 to St. Paul’s in Owosso and in 1989–1990 to Holy Redeemer in Burton. He returned to Samoa in June 1990 on a leave of absence, was laicized in April 2020, and was reported in 2024 to be living in Waipahu, Hawaii.
What Survivors Reported
According to the Michigan Attorney General’s December 16, 2024 report on the Diocese of Lansing, Thomsen sexually abused multiple teenage boys in Michigan. He ran a ‘special club’ for boys at St. Paul’s, giving each member a special patch. He allegedly supplied the boys with alcohol and a kava-based drink that left them numb, let them drive his car, and had them sleep in bed with him, all in the parish rectory. One boy found a book under Thomsen’s mattress titled ‘Aussie Boys – The True Homosexual Experience.’ Published accounts of Father Thomsen archives the ‘special club’ allegations from the Lansing report.
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 Thomsen. Prosecutors handle criminal charges, which may lead to incarceration, while survivors themselves file civil suits seeking damages, as those harmed by Father Thomsen may do.
The Criminal Process
Criminal prosecution, the track that could apply to the allegations against Father Thomsen, requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt; penalties can include imprisonment and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Civil Lawsuits
In civil court, survivors of Father Thomsen sue for damages under a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, a lower bar than in criminal court.
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 Thomsen.
For first-degree criminal sexual conduct, Michigan imposes no time limit at all. And because trauma and memory loss often delay reporting for years or decades, survivors of Father Thomsen should not assume their time has run out, an attorney can evaluate the timeline.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Survivors may be able to sue him as well as the institutions that employed him, including the Diocese of Lansing, if the Church knew or should have known about the danger Father Thomsen posed, failed to prevent the abuse, covered it up, or hired and supervised him negligently.
Survivors of Father Thomsen may recover compensation for medical and therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. White Law PLLC welcomes confidential inquiries at (517) 316-1195.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.