Archdiocese of Detroit removes priest due to credible allegations of sexual abuse

Witkowski restricted from any public ministry

DETROIT – A retired priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has been restricted from any public ministry because of credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit.

The Rev. Robert Witkowski, 83, was added Tuesday to the Archdiocese's list of clergy credibly accused of abuse.

The Archdiocesan Review Board said allegations involving Witkowski going back to the early years of his ministry have been deemed credible.

They said they shared the allegations with authorities and there will be a review process under church (canon) law.

Anyone who has been abused should contact police.

Robert Witkowski. (Archdiocese of Detroit)

 

Witkowski was ordained in 1961 and retired in 2013. He served in parishes as an associate pastor, a pastor and an administrator during those years.

Assignments:

  • 1991 - 2013: St. Edmund, Warren (later merged with St. Sylvester Parish to form St. Faustina Parish)                
  • 1985 - 1991: St. Raymond, Detroit                                                                          
  • 1981 - 1985: St. Lawrence, Utica                                                                
  • 1980 - 1981: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods                     
  • 1976 - 1980: St. Mary Magdalen, Melvindale                                                       
  • 1969 - 1975: Herman Kiefer/Detroit Osteopathic Hospitals, Detroit         
  • 1966 - 1969: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Detroit                                               
  • 1961 - 1966: St. Matthew, Detroit

If you have any information about the Catholic Church you can share that information with the Attorney General's office here. You can also call the investigation hotline at 844-324-3374 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) or send information via email to aginvestigations@michigan.gov.


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Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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