Nessel made the announcement on Dec. 15, 2025, when her office released findings from the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the fifth Michigan diocese to receive a report since the statewide investigation began in October 2018. The final report to be issued in Michigan will address the Archdiocese of Detroit and is expected by the end of the year.

As with the other dioceses, the Saginaw investigation examines allegations dating from 1950 to the present and includes both diocesan priests and members of religious orders who served in the Diocese during that time.

“While the realities revealed in this report are painful for our Church to confront, they present an essential opportunity for accountability, healing and for moving forward together in the light of Christ,” Bishop Robert Gruss said.

The Diocese of Saginaw, along with the dioceses of Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Gaylord and Marquette, has cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s Office throughout the investigation.

In addition, the Diocese has committed significant resourcesto prevention and training efforts and follows the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. The charter establishes procedures for responding to allegations of abuse and includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing and accountability.

With the guidance of the Saginaw Diocese Review Board, the diocese implemented its Safe Environment Policy and Code of Conduct in 2020. These policies are reviewed and updated regularly.

“We must remain vigilant and continue to do all we can to both prevent future abuse and support victim-survivors,” Bishop Gruss wrote in a 2022 letter. “Through ongoing education, we strive to create and maintain safe environments for our children, youth and vulnerable adults.”

Safe Environment training is required for all employees, and for volunteers who have contact with minors in the Diocese of Saginaw.

Since 2020, 4,719 people have completed training.

The Diocese currently has 3,939 active employees and volunteersin the diocese, all of whom require and have successfully completed training.

Safe Environment training and background checks are required for all clergy members and employees, regardless of whether they have contact with minors or vulnerable adults.

Background checks are also required for all volunteers who do have contact with minors and/or vulnerable adults.

Safe Environment training and background checks are renewed every five years for all volunteers and employees.

All clergy members and employees (full-time, part-time, or stipend) are required to read and complete the monthly bulletins from Virtus. Currently 1,027 individuals are required to read the bulletins and correctly respond to a summary quiz question.

The Diocese is audited annually by the USCCB through an outside auditor, with every third year being an in-person audit. The last in-person audit for the Diocese of Saginaw was in July 2024, and the Diocese was found to be in compliance with all articles of the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The 2024 in-person audit was a comprehensive look at the period of April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2024.

The next in-person audit will be in the summer/fall of 2027 and will look at the period of April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2027.