Fr. John Peter Lenihan

From Ireland. Told church officials in 1991 that he sexually abused a teenage girl in the 1970s. Church paid $25K to settle lawsuit; allowed him to continue to work. Removed 9/01 after he revealed several past sexual relationships to an L.A. Times columnist (under pseudonym). In 12/01, he was accused in a second lawsuit of molesting a second teenage girl, starting in the late 1970s. Civil suit settled for $1.2M. Criminal charges dropped 2003 due to Supreme Court ruling. Laicized 5/28/02. Personnel file released 11/23/13.
- Orange County Register 02.04.91
- Orange County Register 02.04.91
- Orange County Register 02.04.91
- LA Times 06.13.93
- LA Times 03.29.02
- NBC4 04.01.02
- LA Times 04.02.02
- Dallas Morning News 06.12.02
- National Catholic Reporter (corrected) 04.11.03
- Amazing Connections 07.18.03
- LA Times 01.11.04
- OC Weekly 04.12.04
- OC Weekly 03.04.05
- OC Register 05.17.05
- Long Beach Press Telegram 10.23.05
- Orange County Register 09.14.07
- OC Weekly 06.02.08
- OC Weekly 03.06.09
- Tribune 02.07.10
- BishopAccountability Posting of Lenihan Personnel File 11.23.13
- Worthy Adversary 01.09.14
- OC Weekly 01.09.14
- Diocese of Orange 08.12.16
- Beach Reporter 11.09.17
Sources:
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