Profile Facts
- Name
- Thaddeus Ozog
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
- Ordained
- 1956
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 11/11/1994
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Michigan have a dedicated advocate in the clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC. We pursue accountability from priests, dioceses, and religious orders while keeping your identity and story protected.
Monsignor Thaddeus Ozog was ordained in 1956 and served parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit, as well as many years at Sacred Heart Seminary. In 2018, the archdiocesan review board deemed an allegation of childhood sexual abuse against him credible. Below is the reported record and an overview of survivors’ legal options.
Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit
Catholics in southeastern Michigan fall under the Archdiocese of Detroit, the largest of the state’s seven dioceses. The other six are the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Gaylord, and Marquette. When Michigan’s Attorney General opened a statewide clergy-abuse investigation in 2018, the Detroit archdiocese’s handling of accused priests drew sustained attention.
Consulting a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer helps survivors translate investigative reports and diocesan disclosures into a concrete legal strategy for compensation.
The Allegations Against Father Thaddeus Ozog
Parishes and the Seminary
Published records indicate that Ozog was assigned to parishes in Detroit, Birmingham, Waterford Township, Wayne, Flat Rock, and Hamtramck. From 1959 to 1975 he also served as a teacher, registrar, dean, and rector at Sacred Heart Seminary, placing him in daily contact with young seminarians.
Credible Allegation in 2018
Ozog was first named publicly as accused by the archdiocese in November 2018, after a man reported sexual abuse as a minor by Ozog, first three years earlier and again in 2018. The archdiocesan review board deemed the allegation credible that year, and Ozog appeared on the archdiocese’s list of credibly accused priests on June 10, 2019. He died in 1994, so criminal charges cannot be brought, but civil claims against his estate or the archdiocese remain possible.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
The justice system offers survivors two different tools. Criminal prosecution, driven by the state, aims to punish the offender with imprisonment. A civil lawsuit, driven by the survivor, aims to secure financial compensation for the harm endured. One does not depend on the other.
Michigan survivors can also pursue the institution: a diocese or archdiocese may be liable when its leaders knew or should have known of the abuse risk yet failed to prevent it, covered it up, or did not adequately screen and supervise the priest.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under MCL §600.5805, Michigan’s civil window for sexual abuse claims is ten years, or until the survivor’s 28th birthday, whichever is later. First-degree criminal sexual conduct is not bound by any time limit. These extended periods acknowledge that trauma and memory loss routinely delay disclosure for years.
Because the deadline can shift with the facts, survivors are best served by discussing their situation with an attorney as soon as they feel ready.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
A civil claim can help cover the costs of healing, including medical and therapy bills, while also recognizing pain and suffering and emotional distress. Just as importantly, it can force the church to answer for the culture that allowed abuse to persist. White Law PLLC will guide you through every stage of that process.
Contact us at (517) 316-1195 for a confidential case review. We represent survivors across the state of Michigan.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.