Monterey Diocese Ids Clergy Accused of Abuse since 1950s

By Joe Szydlowski
Salinas Californian
January 2, 2019

https://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2019/01/02/catholic-diocese-monterey-clergy-accused-sexual-abuse-1950-s/2465834002/

Hands raised in prayer at the second Maria La Luz Divina Congress on Sunday at Sherwood Hall. The well-attended, all-day event is sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Monterey, and helps raise funds to keep radio programs at 1570 AM on the air.

The Catholic Diocese of Monterey has identified 30 priests and other church officials accused of sexual misconduct with children, including a dozen previously undisclosed names.

The diocese has listed the names of its "priests, deacons, religious men and candidates for ordination (seminarians)" accused since the 1950s in a report on its website to "promote transparency and trust."

The report notes that the number of allegations fell from six in the 1990s to two in the 2000s. The most recent alleged abuse occurred 10 years ago, the report says.

It points to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People — a new set of procedures implemented in 2003 to prevent abuse, improve the investigation process and help victims — for that drop.

Here are the newly disclosed names, which the diocese grouped into three categories:

Category 1:

The names following accused clergy were not previously released or otherwise in the public domain:

The Rev. Phillip Abinate's alleged abuse took place in 1970, 1971 and 1975. The abuse was reported in 2003 and Abinate died in 2008.

The Rev. Raul Carvajal's alleged abuse occurred 1984-1985, and it was reported in 2005.

The abuse by Juan Carlos Esquivel, a former seminarian, allegedly occurred in 2007 and was reported in 2007.

The Rev. Carl Faria's abuse reportedly occurred in 1968-1971 and 1973-1976. It was reported to the diocese in 2002. He is retired.

Luis Garcia, a former seminarian, allegedly committed sexual misconduct in 1982. It was reported to the diocese in 2009.

The abuse by Manuel Jimenez, a former seminarian, reportedly occurred in 1994. The diocese learned of it in 1999.

The Rev. Scott McCarthy's alleged victim came forward in 2002 to the diocese to report McCarthy's abuse in 1976. He is retired.

The Rev. Gilbert Meyer's alleged abuse took place1961-1964. The diocese learned of the abuse in 2010. He is retired.

The Rev. Charles Moore reportedly abused his victim(s) in 1974 and the diocese learned of it in 2003. He has died.

The Rev. Colman O’Connor was accused in 1993 of sexual misconduct in 1979 and 1980. He died in 1996.

The Rev. Joseph Sheehan was accused in 1992 of abuse in the early 1970s. The diocese learned of the allegations in 1992. Sheehan has died.

James Wisecaver was accused of abuse in 1997, the same year it allegedly happened. He has since died.

Category 2:

The following names have previously been reported to the public as accused of abuse. All have either retired, died or been defrocked.

The Rev. William Allison

The Rev. Alberto Battagliola

The Rev. Antonio Cortes

The Rev. Edward Fitz-Henry

The Rev. Juan Guillen

The Rev. Gregory Kareta, OFM Conv.

The Rev. Michael McDonald3

The Rev. Patrick McHugh

The Rev. Paul Valdez

The Rev. John Velez

Category 3:

These clergy died before the abuse was reported to the diocese, but the allegations appear plausible:

The Rev. Thomas Condon

The Rev. Edward Crews

The Rev. Patrick Daly

The Rev. Edward Haskins

The Rev. Felix Migliazzo

The Rev. Thomas Neary

The Rev. John Pierson

The Rev. Rino Spada

The Diocese of Monterey, like many around the country and world, has been hit with allegations and lawsuits accusing clergy of sexually abusing children and the church administrators of covering up the abuse.