Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1958-2012 · 54 years · show in timeline

Michigan 1958 to 2012: A priest was moved twice despite complaints of abuse of altar boys; a bishop suggested keeping him in place so the rumours would not be confirmed

The Michigan Attorney General's report on the Diocese of Saginaw (2026) documents from seized files the case of Father Stanislaus Bur. Around 1972 a prosecutor asked by telephone that Bur leave the area to avoid future embarrassment; the matter was not pursued and Bur was moved to Beal City. There, at the end of 1972, the parish council reported that Bur took altar boys to his country place, with beer and sexual molesting in the evenings. Bishop Reh had his chancellor swear secrecy and suggested to the parents that Bur stay so as not to confirm the rumours. Bur was moved to another parish. In 1983 he was retired with thanks for his cooperation, suspended in 1992 and permanently removed in 2005. Rome did not send the files Saginaw requested in 2009 until 2012.

Period
1958-2012 (54 years)
Country
Vatican City, United States
Institutions
Diocese of Saginaw
Diocese of Grand Rapids
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Category
Sexual abuse, Cover-up
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?
Persons
Stanislaus Bur (priest in Grand Rapids and Saginaw, credibly accused according to the diocesan list, removed from ministry in 2005)
Francis Reh (Bishop of Saginaw, suggested in 1973 that Bur not be moved)

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. On 28 December 1972 representatives of St Joseph the Worker parish in Beal City told the chancellor of the Diocese of Saginaw that Bur regularly took altar boys to his country place; during the day they worked outdoors, in the evenings there was beer and sexual molesting. Several parents were willing to testify. The allegations Saginaw reported to Rome in 2004 included one from Grand Rapids from 1958.
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 15
    „was taking altar boys up to his country place regularly. During the day, they worked outdoors. In the evenings, there was beer (cigarettes?) and sexual molesting.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 15. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 10
    „including one from Fr. Bur’s ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids in 1958“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 10. Original · Archive copy

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. According to a 1973 letter from the Bishop of Grand Rapids, the prosecutor's office of a northern county asked by telephone that Bur leave the area to avoid future embarrassment; the matter was not pursued because all parties agreed not to investigate the allegations further. The bishop wrote that Bishop Babcock may have kept the file in his confidential papers, which he ordered burned on his death. A parishioner wrote in 1973 that she had complained about Bur three or four years earlier and was frightened that he was allowed to go to yet another place.
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 17
    „In this telephone conversation the departure of Fr. Bur from the area was requested in order to avoid future embarrassment.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 17. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 17
    „Hence the matter was not pursued further because all parties involved were in agreement not to continue further investigation into the allegations.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 17. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 17
    „It is possible that Bishop Babcock placed the letter in his own confidential files, which he kept at his residence, and ordered to be burned on the occasion of his death.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 17. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 18
    „It surprises and also frightens [me] that you would let [him] go to still another place [to] preach“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 18. Original · Archive copy

What happened to those affected?

  1. In 1983 Bishop Kenneth Untener retired Bur early after a psychological evaluation, with the normal benefits, and thanked him in writing for his admirable cooperation. In October 1992 Bur was suspended, in November 2005 permanently removed from ministry; he died in 2009. Saginaw had sent the case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome in 2004; the congregation did not send back the files requested in 2009 until October 2012.
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 21
    „Your spirit of cooperation in this has been admirable, and it has meant a great deal to me.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 21. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 10
    „Fr. Bur was suspended from ministry in October 1992 and permanently removed from ministry in November 2005.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 10. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 10
    „Died: February 1, 2009“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 10. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 10
    „the CDF did not send the requested copy of the original acts of the case until October 2012“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 10. Original · Archive copy

Background

Response of the Church

  1. On 25 January 1973 Bishop Francis Reh had his chancellor swear an oath of secrecy about all papers relating to the process against Bur. At a meeting with Bur it was decided to suggest to the parish that Bur not be transferred, so as not to give credence to the rumours. The parish council refused; according to the file note, the bishop and the dean had a real concern that two parents would complain to the sheriff. Bur had to leave the parish; it was planned that he would supply a parish outside the diocese for at least a month, after which another appointment would be considered.
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 18
    „took an oath to maintain secrecy regarding everything which he may learn as Chancellor and Notary“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 18. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 19
    „It was decided that the parish (parish council and certain parents) should be approached and the suggestion made that Father Bur not be transferred so as not to give credance [sic.] to the rumors.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 19. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 20
    „there was reason for the Bishop, as well as Fr. Thome, to have a real concern that the two parents involved would lodge a complaint with the local sheriff“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 20. Original · Archive copy
    Evidence: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel, S. 20
    „A plan was worked out with Fr. Thome by which Fr. Bur would be able to supply a parish outside of the diocese for at least a month.“
    Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, S. 20. Original · Archive copy

See also

Original documents to read

  1. Government report
    Michigan Department of Attorney General, Dana Nessel: Diocese of Saginaw: A Complete Accounting, 25 June 2026. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Change log (1)

The change log is kept in German only.

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Last changed on 30 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.