Former Alameda St. Joseph Basilica Priest Charged With Sexual Battery

OAKLAND (CA)
KPIX-TV

July 18, 2020

A former parish priest at Alameda’s St. Joseph Basilica has been charged with misdemeanor sexual battery on an adult, according to Alameda County prosecutors.

Varghese Alengadad, 68, also known as Father George, was a priest at St. Joseph Basilica when the alleged battery took place on July 24, 2019.

The charges sent shock waves through the island’s Catholic community.

“Father George held a position of trust, authority and power at St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda,” Alameda County District Attorney Nancy

O’Malley said in a statement. “As Pastor of the church and school, there existed a power imbalance over others that compounds the impact of sexual abuse. His position made his actions all the more devastating to the victim.”

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