List of accused clergy includes three former St. James priests

DAVIS (CA)
Yolo County News

May 1, 2019

By Lauren Keene

A list of 46 Sacramento-area clergy accused of sexual abuse, released this week by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, names three priests who once served at St. James Church in Davis — including one whose conduct was the subject of a high-profile Yolo County court case.

Others on the list were assigned to Catholic churches in the neighboring Yolo County communities of Woodland, Winters, West Sacramento and Clarksburg.

“I am repulsed and heartbroken by the evil acts that were perpetrated upon the innocent by those entrusted with their care,” Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto said in a written statement accompanying the list, which was posted on the Diocese’s website shortly after midnight Tuesday.

“The pain and suffering of the victims from the betrayal and loss of innocence has continued for decades and will never go away,” Soto added. “I apologize for the sins and failures of the past. I am determined that such acts of abuse should never again occur in our diocese.”

Comprising 44 priests and two deacons, the compilation details what Soto called “credibly accused” clergy dating back to the 1950s, involving more than 130 male and female victims under the age of 25. The Sacramento Diocese covers 20 Northern California counties.

Prior to release, the list was reviewed by a team of legal professionals as well as a former executive assistant FBI director, Soto said.

For two of the former St. James priests, the reported abuse occurred while they were still assigned to the B Street church, though one incident was not relayed to authorities for several decades, records show.

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