The Archdiocese of Detroit is requiring all priests and employees to be fingerprinted, one of several new initiatives to prevent sexual abuse, its leader announced Wednesday, March 11.
In a pastoral letter on clergy abuse, Archbishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger said that the archdiocese plans to appoint a supervisor who will “monitor priests or deacons who have been removed from ministry” and coordinate with local and federal law enforcement officials.
Weisenburger said the archdiocese recently got back files on sexual abuse by clergy from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who had them for seven years as part of her investigations into abuse cases that resulted in some criminal prosecutions. The archdiocese is now conducting a review of all its abuse cases stretching back about 100 years, the archbishop said.
“For the first known time in the history of our archdiocese, this team reviewed and evaluated every known case involving clergy misconduct — not only those involving allegations of sexual abuse — dating back to the early 1920s,” Weisenburger wrote. “I greatly appreciate (Nessel’s) office for granting my request, shortly after my arrival here in Detroit, to return our personnel files which had been in their custody for approximately seven years. As we continue to cooperate fully with the Attorney General’s Task Force, it is my hope that our own careful review of these files will allow us to respond with transparency and justice when the Attorney General’s report is published.”
It’s unclear whether the reviews of the archdiocese will result in criminal investigations or cases as Nessel continues to work on a report on the Detroit archdiocese. Nessel has so far released reports on Catholic clergy abuse at five of the seven dioceses in Michigan since she took office in 2019. The latest one was released in December, on the Grand Rapids diocese. The remaining two she’s working on that haven’t been released are the dioceses in Saginaw and Detroit, which is the largest diocese in the state.
A spokesman for Nessel, Danny Wimmer, told the Free Press on Wednesday their office “intends this year to issue the final two reports” on Saginaw and Detroit. Wimmer said Nessel has not returned all of the documents on abuse back to the Detroit archdiocese because they are still investigating them. He said their office will continue to investigate cases and any new ones that surface.
“As each report has been issued, our office has retuned to each respective Diocese its original documents involved in our investigations,” Wimmer said. “The Archdiocese of Detroit has requested a return of its original documents and in response our office has begun transferring to the Archdiocese documents that were no longer needed in our work to compile our anticipated report. This transfer of documents remains ongoing.”
Wimmer added that “our investigation continues, and these transfers of original files in no way inhibit our ability to conduct investigatory efforts. Each Diocese continues to refer new cases to our office as reports arise. Any victims making reports to our office and our dedicated tipline are contacted and their reports reviewed in earnest.”
In his strongly-worded letter, Weisenburger said there has been a “history of failure” in the Catholic Church at dealing with abuse.
“Clergy sexual abuse has been nothing short of a horrific scourge on the Church,” he said. “These crimes have caused immeasurable harm — devastating child victims and their families and wounding the faith of an entire generation of Catholics.”
As part of its efforts, the archdiocese — which oversees 907,000 Catholics in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Monroe and St. Clair counties — will also increase funding for psychiatric and psychological care for abuse victims, and require Sacred Heart Major Seminary to develop a curriculum at an annual seminar that educates about the history of clergy abuse and reviews mandates on clergy conduct.
“I want all future priests and deacons to have this at the forefront of their minds when they carry out their ministry,” Weisenburger said. “This enhanced formation for our future priests and deacons will include a comprehensive review of reports issued by the Michigan Attorney General and other law enforcement agencies around the United States, any report I might later publish, and the more recent changes to the penal section of the Code of Canon Law.”
The communications offices of the Archdiocese did not return a message from the Free Press seeking details on when Nessel returned the files on clergy abuse and a specific timeline of the efforts.
Fingerprinting started this year
The fingerprinting of archdiocesan employees and priests started earlier this year, Weisenburger said. It “applies to all clergy, educators, and employees, as well as volunteers who work directly with children and vulnerable adults,” he said.
“I was first in line to be fingerprinted, followed by my Vicar General and the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline, and around 170 other diocesan priests to date,” Weisenburger wrote. “This initiative will continue to be implemented in phases over the coming months.”
Fingerprinting “is widely recognized as the ‘gold standard’ and most reliable method in the security field,” the letter said. “Advances in technology now allow these screenings to be conducted quickly and securely using portable devices. Fingerprinting serves not only as a thorough prescreening measure but also as an ongoing safeguard. Through participation in state and federal databases, we will receive notification of subsequent arrests of anyone in our system who has been fingerprinted, enabling timely and appropriate action when necessary.”
Weisenburger was installed as archbishop one year ago this month on March 18, 2025. Over the past year, he has shifted the archdiocese in more of a progressive direction, speaking out often in support of immigrant rights and marching in a protest outside the Detroit office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also has voiced support for victims in Gaza. The archdiocese is also working on plans to possibly downsize as membership declines to its lowest point in 70 years. A two-year restructuring plan was announced in November with registration for parish listening sessions to gather input starting on Friday, March 13.
Weisenburger was appointed by the late Pope Francis, whose successor, Pope Leo XIV, has received mixed reaction on his record of combating sexual abuse. In November, Pope Leo met with sexual abuse victims who were abused by Catholic clergy when they were minors, CNN reported. The following month, December 2025, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) criticized Pope Leo, alleging he shielded clergy in Peru accused of abuse. The Vatican had previously denied the allegations against him.
Victims of abuse in the Archdiocese of Detroit can contact officials in Nessel’s office or with the Archdiocese of Detroit, Weisenbuger said in his pastoral letter. For the phone numbers and emails to contact to report abuse, go to aod.org/rebuildingtrust. People can also report abuse to their local police department, Weisenburger said.
“Every complaint received by the Archdiocese of Detroit is shared with appropriate civil authorities,” he said.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com
(This story was updated with additional information.)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit archdiocese announces new plans to combat clergy sexual abuse
Reporting by Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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