Former Michigan priest ordered to stand trial for sexually abusing a minor in the 1980s
We are grateful that former priest Neil Kalina will face a criminal trial in Michigan. For far too long, in far too many cases, Catholic officials who concealed child sex crimes succeeded in “running out the clock,” allowing perpetrators to escape responsibility for their damaging crimes. We applaud the tremendous work of the Michigan Attorney General’s Office (OAG) in its ongoing investigation into abuse by the clergy.
Kalina was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township from 1982-1985, and he is accused of sexually abusing children 13-15 years old there. He was first charged in May of 2019 and was arrested in Littlerock, California, where he operated "a faith-based service program for at-risk young men” in LA County.
On Tuesday, a judge ruled there was enough probable cause to send Kalina’s case to Macomb County Circuit Court for trial. He is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) against a child 13-15 years old, punishable by up to life in prison, and two counts of second-degree CSC against a child 13-15 years old, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. His next court appearance is set for November 1.
To date, the OAG has charged 11 people in its statewide probe of Catholic abuse, 4 of which have resulted in convictions. In a statement to the media regarding the Kalina case, Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “As we marked the three-year anniversary of our Clergy Abuse Investigation at the beginning of the month, I hope our continued prosecution against Mr. Kalina serves as a reminder of our ongoing commitment to securing justice for abuse survivors.”
Secular investigations, nationally and internationally, are providing the best hope of justice for Catholic victims of clergy sex crimes. Just as importantly, these investigations are revealing the true scope of the problem of abusive clerics, how often the dioceses that employed these perpetrators failed to disclose crucial information, and how the Church allowed these men to continue to endanger the public in other parts of the country, or even other parts of the world.
To learn more about the investigation into Catholic clergy abuse or to submit information, visit the attorney general’s website. Tips can also be provided by calling 844-324-3374.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager, (267-261-0578, [email protected]) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected]), Melanie Sakoda, Survivor Support Coordinator (925-708-6175, [email protected]) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President, (814-341-8386, [email protected]) Nadja Tirrell, SNAP Leader - Lansing (810 874-9620, [email protected]) Nancy Crabbs, SNAP Leader - Grand Rapids-West Michigan (616-514-7973,[email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is www.snapnetwork.org)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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