CALIFORNIA
The Sun
By Lori Fowler, The Sun
POSTED: 02/10/14
Two of three lawsuits alleging a former Ontario priest sexually abused a child have been settled for $3.8 million, diocese of San Bernardino officials said Monday.
The diocese settled the cases against Alejandro “Alex” Castillo last month in San Bernardino County Superior Court, officials said, adding that Castillo — once a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Ontario — has been defrocked.
“The settlement was made in the interest of healing for the victims, their family and the local church, and for the continued stability of diocesan ministries,” according to a statement released by the diocese. “The diocese acknowledges and deeply regrets the sinful and unlawful actions of Castillo while also noting that it took immediate action to remove him from ministry and notify police as soon as the allegations against him were known, in accordance with diocesan policy.”
Three civil lawsuits have been filed against Castillo and the diocese, said Joelle Casteix, western regional director for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Two were in 2011 and one in 2012.
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