GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- Prosecutors from the Michigan Attorney General's office are investigating all seven Roman Catholic Dioceses in the state, looking for unreported cases of children sexually abused by clergy.
A former altar boy in the Grand Rapids Diocese thinks the investigation will uncover many previously unknown pedophile priests.
“It will uncover a large population of abusive priests in this state,” says William McAlary. “And there will be a large headcount of victims like myself, if they are still alive.”
McAlary says he was abused 60 years ago in Ionia.
“I was 13 then,” he says. “I’m 73 now.”
A recent investigation in Pennsylvania identified hundreds of priests who preyed on children and McAlary says clergy assaulting children is not confined to Pennsylvania. He thinks the Attorney General will find plenty of cases in Michigan, too.
“There are already 14 identified in the Grand Rapids Diocese,” he says. “In the Detroit area you can quadruple that number. I am very glad the state of Michigan is taking this initiative. There is rampant sex abuse.”
On Wednesday, Grand Rapids Bishop David Walkowiak presided over a Holy Hour to pray for victims abused by clergy.
“I am sorry that a church leader who you trusted misused his power and abused you,” he said to the congregation.
“I don’t think we will see an end to this,” says McAlary. “Don’t count on it ever getting any better until they do something to screen out the pedophiles who come like magnets to this church to become priests.”
Because the statute of limitations has passed for prosecution in many of the cases, McAlary would like the state to open a two or three year window for victims to file civil suits against the church and try to collect compensation for their suffering.
“I would love to do something to take action against the church,” he says. “It is totally corrupt.”
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