Former Bishop of the Gaylord Diocese, Bishop Steven Raica, has been accused of multiple coverups of sexual abuse during his tenure in the Lansing Diocese. This was revealed in a recent document released by the Michigan Attorney General. Raica’s name appears over 150 times in the report! Among the most damning allegations is a the following found on page 90:
During the same interview, John Doe 18 told the detective that, one day when he
was crying, he told Fr. Steve, whom he believed was Fr. Steve Raica – referenced
throughout this report as Msgr. Steven Raica, who is currently bishop of the Diocese
of Birmingham (Alabama) – that “Fr. DeLorenzo does bad things to him.” (Id. at 3.)
John Doe 18 alleged that Fr. Raica asked him what Fr. DeLorenzo did to him, and
John Doe 18 indicated that he told Fr. Raica that Fr. DeLorenzo “made [John Doe
18] take his clothes off.” (Id. at 4.) Fr. Raica allegedly told John Doe 18 it would
stop, and it did. (Id. at 3, 4.) John Doe 18 believed Fr. Raica talked to Fr.
DeLorenzo because, after he told Fr. Raica, it never happened again. (Id.) John
Doe 18 stated that Fr. Raica never reported the sexual abuse to the school principal
or to John Doe 18’s parents. (Id.) According to the police report, “John Doe 18 said
he holds a grudge to this day against Fr. Steve, because [he] could have stopped
future issue[s] right then and there if he would have called his parents.”
The Attorney General released a report of the Gaylord Diocese earlier this year. It was extensively covered by Gaylord Diocesan Watch and can be accessed by viewing past issues of this website.
After leaving in disgrace from the Gaylord Diocese, Bishop Raica was named Bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama. The implications for the Diocese of Gaylord include the possibility that Bishop Raica’s role in sexual abuse cases in the Gaylord Diocese could be reviewed, including but not limited to, his knowledge of the disgraced Fathers Stilwell, Holtz, and Medlin, among others. It may further put his current role as Bishop of the Birmingham Diocese in jeopardy.
It is vitally important that groups of faithful Catholics in dioceses across the United States are active in holding their diocesan leadership, clergy, and administrative staff accountable for their decisions. Whether fortunate or unfortunate, it is the role of every sincere Catholic to participate in the life of the parish and the diocese. At times, this may include the confronting of the bishop and clergy. It is a moral imperative that we hold ourselves and our clergy answerable for their actions. This promotes the holiness of all of us. It provides a level of scrutiny and accountability so needed these days. But maybe most importantly, it can prevent some of the most egregious perversions and misdeeds perpetrated by bishops and priests simply by their knowledge of our existence and our willingness to call them out when their actions are inappropriate.
Decisions have consequences. Immoral and damaging decisions can have dire consequences. Every diocese should have a diocesan watch group of faithful Catholics to assist the bishop and clergy with an apostolate like Gaylord Diocesan Watch.