Robert Gordon Smith
Last checked against the sources: 15 October 2026
Robert Gordon Smith is named on the Diocese of Saginaw's list "Names of Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor" and on the Diocese of Gaylord's list "Clergy with a Substantiated Allegation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor", and in the Michigan Attorney General's reports on the Diocese of Gaylord and the Diocese of Saginaw. This page sets out what those official sources say, with links to each.
What the Diocese of Saginaw's list says
Listed as "Robert Gordon Smith", under "Clergy from religious institutes and other dioceses". The Diocese of Saginaw's list.
- Date of Birth: October 10, 1909
- Date of Ordination for Diocese of Saginaw: February 24, 1945
- Previous Primary Assignments:
- Student, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. until June 1945
- Assistant Priest, St. Joseph Parish, Saginaw, June 1945-August 1948
- Assistant Priest, St. Joseph Parish, East Tawas, August 1948-September 1951
- Assistant Priest, Our Lady of Lake Huron, Harbor Beach, September 1951-December 1952
- Priest Administrator, then Pastor, St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Vassar and St. Bernard Mission, Millington, December 1952- March 1962
- Assistant Priest, St. Ignatius Parish, Rogers City, March 1962-July 1965
- Pastor, St. Paul Parish, Onaway, July 1965
- Became a priest of the Diocese of Gaylord when that diocese was established on July 21, 1971
- Died: June 24, 1980
The diocese's page for this person
What the Diocese of Gaylord's list says
Listed as "Robert Gordon Smith", under "Diocese of Gaylord ordained or incardinated priests against whom credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made". The Diocese of Gaylord's list.
- Retired from ministry 1978
- Deceased 1980
The Attorney General's report
Entry 25 in the Michigan Attorney General's report on the Diocese of Gaylord, released 8 January 2024. Read the report (PDF on michigan.gov).
Entry 32 in the Michigan Attorney General's report on the Diocese of Saginaw, released 25 June 2026. 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 Saginaw. All names for the Diocese of Gaylord. How to report abuse.
Sources
- Diocese of Saginaw, list: https://saginaw.org/names-clergy-accused-sexual-abuse-minor
- Diocese of Gaylord, list: https://dioceseofgaylord.org/clergy-substantiated-allegation-sexual-abuse-minor
- Diocese of Saginaw, person page: https://saginaw.org/robert-gordon-smith
- Michigan Attorney General, report on the Diocese of Gaylord: michigan.gov
- Michigan Attorney General, report on the Diocese of Saginaw: michigan.gov
- Michigan Attorney General, Catholic Church clergy abuse: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/catholic-church-clergy-abuse