Fr. Owen da Silva

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1936
Status: Sued

Died: 10/13/1967
Diocese: Diocese of San Bernardino CA

A man filed a 2004 amended pleading in his civil suit against Fr. Matthew Kelly alleging that at least 31 clergymen abused youths in Santa Barbara, CA and at St. Anthony’s Seminary. Pleadings name da Silva as the first Santa Barbara perpetrator of child sexual assault and says that he abused an altar boy in 1936-1937 at the seminary. The source cited is a statement by the alleged victim. Fr. da Silva died in 1967. Included on the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans list 5/31/2019. On the Las Cruces diocese’s list 6/24/2019, where he worked 1957-1964. (Name misspelled de Silva). Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report.


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