Profile Facts
- Name
- Theodore Tsiakalos
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Ordained
- 1948
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 8/29/2002
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Accusations of child sexual abuse have been leveled against Father Theodore Tsiakalos, ordained in 1948, of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. As clergy sexual abuse lawyers serving survivors across Michigan, White Law PLLC has prepared this profile to lay out the reported allegations against Father Theodore Tsiakalos and the legal paths that may be open.
Below you will find the assignments and status attributed to Father Theodore Tsiakalos, a plain-language account of the reported abuse, and an overview of how Michigan law treats these cases. If Father Theodore Tsiakalos harmed you or someone you love, you do not have to face what comes next alone.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Michigan’s Attorney General began investigating clergy sexual abuse across the state in 2018, and the Diocese of Grand Rapids 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 Theodore Tsiakalos.
Diocese of Lansing, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Marquette, Diocese of Gaylord, Archdiocese of Detroit: those are Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses. The Attorney General’s investigation generated report after report on them, and the Diocese of Grand Rapids report contributes to what is publicly known about Father Theodore Tsiakalos.
The Allegations Against Father Theodore Tsiakalos
Where He Served
Theodore Tsiakalos was ordained in 1948 as a priest of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, according to published diocesan records. He was sent quietly to the Diocese of Brooklyn around 1950 or 1951, served at St. Anthony’s in Oceanside from January 1960 to July 1963, and appears to have remained in the Rockville Centre diocese through 1972. The Rockville Centre diocese publicly named him as accused in March 2021, misspelling his name as “Tziakalos.”
What Survivors Reported
The Michigan Attorney General’s December 15, 2025 report on the Diocese of Grand Rapids notes that the Diocese of Gaylord received a report in 2007 from a man who said Tsiakalos sexually abused him and another boy in 1950 and 1951, when they were altar boys at St. Mary’s in Cheboygan. Per the alleged victim, Tsiakalos had the boys spend the night in the rectory before they were to serve Mass; the boys were bathed with the priest’s “help” and then made to sleep naked in the same bed. The report also describes alleged abuse occurring in Tsiakalos’ car, and states that Tsiakalos “possibly” died on August 29, 2002.
With Tsiakalos reportedly deceased, criminal prosecution is no longer possible, but survivors may still pursue civil claims against his estate or the dioceses that assigned him.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Understanding the split between criminal and civil cases matters for anyone abused by Father Theodore Tsiakalos. 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 Theodore Tsiakalos 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 Theodore Tsiakalos 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 Theodore Tsiakalos’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 Theodore Tsiakalos 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 Theodore Tsiakalos 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.