A senior retired priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit has been restricted from public ministry after credible allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Robert Witkowski, 83, was officially removed from his duties effective Tuesday, Oct. 9. His name has since been added to the Archdiocese's list of clergy credibly accused of abuse, according to a release.
The credible allegations date back to Witkowski's early years in ministry. Over the years, he has served as a hospital chaplain, in parishes as an associate pastor, a pastor and an administrator from 1961 to 2013.
The priest's biographical information:
1961: Ordained
2013: Senior Priest Status (Retired)
2018: Restricted from Public Ministry
His assignments:
1991 - 2013: St. Edmund, Warren
1985 - 1991: St. Raymond, Detroit
1981 - 1985: St. Lawrence, Utica
1980 - 1981: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods
1976 - 1980: St. Mary Magdalen, Melvindale
1969 - 1975: Herman Kiefer/Detroit Osteopathic Hospitals, Detroit
1966 - 1969: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Detroit
1961 - 1966: St. Matthew, Detroit
The Archdiocese encourages anyone who has been abused to contact authorities or the Archdioceses's Victim Assistance Line at 866-343-8055 or visit protect.aod.org. Additionally, they can also call the Attorney General's toll-free investigation hotline at 844-324-3374 or submit online at mi.gov/ci.
