Bishop James Stephen Sullivan

Last checked against the sources: 15 October 2026

What the Diocese of Lansing's list says

Listed as "Bishop James Stephen Sullivan", under "Deceased Bishops with a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor". The Diocese of Lansing's list.

• Ordained – 1955
• Ordained bishop – 1972
• Died – 6/12/06
• Bishop of Fargo – 1985 - 2002

Assignments, as the list gives them:

• Saint Luke, Flint
• Saint Mary Cathedral, Lansing
• Secretary to the Bishop
• St. Joseph, St Joseph
• Resurrection, Lansing
• Vice Chancellor
• Auxiliary Bishop of Lansing
• Temporary Administrator of Diocese of Lansing
• Pastor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing
• Bishop of Fargo
• Note – The credible allegations against Bishop Sullivan were received posthumously.
• List last updated June 11, 2025

The Attorney General's report

Entry 49 in the Michigan Attorney General's report on the Diocese of Lansing, released 16 December 2024. Read the report (PDF on michigan.gov).

The Attorney General's page says:

It is important to note that a criminal charge is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It is also important to note that the inclusion in this report does not reflect a determination by the Department that the allegations are credible or otherwise substantiated or indicative of a crime.

About this page

Being named on a diocese's list is the diocese's own finding. It is not a criminal conviction unless a source above says so. This page repeats what the official sources say and does not add to it.

To ask for a correction, email corrections@misurvivors.com with this page's address and the source that shows the correct information.

All names for the Diocese of Lansing. How to report abuse.