#USA #MI – A Roman Catholic priest previously investigated for a pattern of sexual abuse at the University of Notre Dame faced new allegations of misconduct at a Michigan parish, according to an external report released by the university in May 2026.
Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., who served as rector of Zahm Hall from 1980 to 1997, allegedly directed a male parishioner to remove his shirt during a meeting at the rectory of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles following a confession. King then reportedly circled the man while spraying holy water on his bare chest, face, and back before grabbing his groin area, the report stated.
The parishioner, who spoke with investigators, described sitting down in shock after the incident. King allegedly then asked the man to bring pornographic videos for them to watch together. The parishioner left the rectory that evening and never returned to the parish. He did not report the encounter to diocesan officials at the time.
King joined St. Mark Catholic Church in the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 2007 as administrator and became pastor in 2008. He remained there until 2019, when the Congregation of Holy Cross removed him amid concerns about his health and erratic behavior, including mood swings and public outbursts. Leadership later acknowledged that reports from an alleged victim factored into the decision.
The Michigan allegations surfaced as part of a broader external investigation commissioned by Notre Dame President Rev. Robert Dowd and Board of Trustees Chair John Veihmeyer. The University of Notre Dame hired the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, led by former sex crimes prosecutor Helen Cantwell, to examine claims against King dating back to his time on campus.
The 25-page report, made public on May 28, 2026, found that King engaged in grooming behaviors and sexually touched or assaulted multiple individuals, including at least 15 students subjected to a “weighing scheme.” Under the guise of health concerns, King allegedly took students to a locker room, instructed them to undress fully, and weighed them. Some reported additional sexual contact or assault.
Investigators identified credible accounts of abuse spanning the 1980s and 1990s at Notre Dame and afterward, including during King’s tenure teaching at Holy Cross College until 2007. King, who was 83 at the time of the report’s release, declined to be interviewed through counsel.
The Diocese of Kalamazoo stated it first learned of the Niles allegation in late May 2026 and immediately forwarded it to the Michigan Attorney General’s office. No charges had been filed against King in Michigan or Indiana as of June 9, 2026. The diocese encouraged additional victims to come forward.
Allegations against King first reached Notre Dame in 2018, but the university’s initial response did not fully recognize the predatory pattern until the 2025 investigation. The report also noted instances involving another priest, Rev. David Porterfield.
King later resided at Holy Cross House, a facility for retired or ill members of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Complicit Clergy, an organization tracking clergy abuse cases, publicized the Michigan incident on June 10, 2026, drawing from the Notre Dame report.
The case highlighted ongoing challenges within Catholic institutions regarding the handling of historical abuse claims. Notre Dame officials expressed commitment to strengthening policies and supporting those affected.
Image: St. Mark’s Parish in Niles, Michigan.
