Fr. Michael A. Harris
Monsignor. Parish priest. Principal at Mater Dei High School and later Santa Margarita High School. Resigned in 1/1994 from Santa Margarita High after the mother of a former male Mater Dei student who died of AIDS made allegations against Harris to the Diocese. Sent to St. Luke Institute in MD for treatment, where doctors determined that Harris was attracted to adolescent boys. Accused of the sexual abuse of another male student at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, per a 9/1994 civil suit, which was later dropped. A third accuser, who said Harris abused him in 1991, settled for $5.2M in 2001. Harris was laicized 11/13/2001. Several other victims filed lawsuits in 2003. Accused in lawsuits by over a dozen former students. Said to have sexually abused at least nine children prior to his arrival at Mater Dei. Harris worked in both the Diocese of Orange and Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is on lists released by both. Personnel file released in 5/2012. Civil suit settled with Orange for $2M just before trial in 6/2012; the plaintiff alleged abuse as a teenager by Harris in late 1986 or early 1987. Suit filed in 12/2019. Settlement in 12/2024 of $3.5M with a former Mater Dei student who alleged he was sexually abused by Harris in 1978.
- Orange County Register 03.05.94
- L.A. Times 10.16.94
- OC Register 10.17.94
- OC Register 10.18.94
- OC Register 08.22.01
- OC Register 12.07.01
- L.A. Times 01.11.04
- L.A. Archdiocesan Report 02.17.04
- City of Angels 11.03.07
- Orange County Register 05.23.12
- Worthy Adversary 06.04.12
- Orange County Register 06.06.12
- Digital Hairshirt 06.07.12
- Orange County Weekly 06.19.12
- Orange County Register 06.19.12
- The Patch 06.19.12
- Worthy Advisor 06.19.12
- KYPost 06.26.12
- Diocese of Orange 08.12.16
- CBS LA 12.27.19
- Orange County Register 12.18.24
- KABC 12.28.19
- L.A. Times 12.18.24
- KABC 12.18.24
- MyNewsLA 12.18.24
- L.A. Times 12.19.24
- Orange Juice Blog 12.28.24
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