Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Duluth to retire

The Diocese of Duluth has announced that Rev. William Graham, the pastor of St. Michael Parish in Duluth, will be retiring on July 1. Father Graham had recently returned to the church in May after nearly 8 years.

The Diocese of Duluth had removed Father Graham after a sexual misconduct allegation dating back to 2016, but, after an investigation from the Vatican determined there was not sufficient evidence to find Father Graham guilty, he was exonerated.

“Father Graham waged an eight-year long battle to defend his reputation after a Duluth man in 2016 accused Father Graham of sexually abusing him as a teenager in the 1970s,” explained a release from the Diocese. “From the start, Graham denied the allegation and passed a lie detector test. Civil authorities never brought criminal charges. Graham then sued his accuser in St. Louis County District Court, and in 2018, a Duluth jury awarded Graham $13,500, finding that his accuser had interfered with Graham’s contractual duties and ability to earn a living as a priest. In 2019, the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the verdict.”

“Bishop Felton wishes to thank Father Graham for his years of faithful service to the Diocese and wishes him well in retirement,” the statement continued. “He regrets the suffering that Father Graham, the parishioners of St. Michael’s and all those impacted by these proceedings have endured and expresses the hope for healing for all. Despite his disagreements with the Diocese over the way his case was handled, Father Graham remains grateful for his time serving the faithful of the Diocese of Duluth and wishes them all the best in the future.”

Father Graham was ordained as a priest of the Diocese back in 1976. He served as a pastor at St. John’s in Duluth and then St. Margaret Mary’s. He also served as a chaplain at Cathedral High School in the late 70s and early 80s. He served two separte terms at St. Michael.

Father Graham turns 75 next year.