CALIFORNIA
Patch
By Julianna Crisalli
During Fr. Timothy Ramaekers first weekend as priest of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Aliso Viejo, protesters lined the street with signs that read, “Protect Our Children,” “Pedophile Priest Raped my Brother” and “Matthew’s 9/11 Moment Lasted 4 Years.”
The group of 35-40 picketers are family and friends of Matthew, a man who claimed to have recovered repressed memories of sexual abuse by four priests and one layperson from 1978-86 at St. Justin Martyr in Anaheim. Ramaekers was one of the accused priests.
“I have been accused of sexual misconduct with a minor,” Ramaekers said during his Sunday service. “No credible evidence to support the allegations of the plaintiff could be found. At no time have I been removed from ministry or placed on administrative leave.”
Wide discrepancies and factual inaccuracies made during the investigation determined that the accusations made against Ramaekers were false, according to church documents.
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