Fr. Joseph T. Pritchard

Accused of the sexual abuse of at least 19 children, including his nephew. Dates of abuse range from 1956 to the late 1970s. Pritchard was a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco until the Diocese of San Jose was created in 1981. Died 10/17/1988. During 2002-2003, 23 suits naming Pritchard were filed. He is the subject of several settlements, including 10 claims in a 6/2005 $21.2M settlement with the SF Archdiocese and another 12 claims in a 7/2005 $16M settlement.  Included on the diocese’s list 10/18/2018. Accused in a lawsuit by the sister of a man who died by suicide in 2022 while exploring legal options regarding his abuse by Pritchard as a child. Two cases were delayed for almost two years after the Archdiocese declared bankruptcy; a judge ruled in 4/2025 that they could go to trial in 6/2025. They cases were brought by two men alleging abuse by Pritchard as children in the 1970s, when Pritchard was pastor of St. Martin of Tours in San Jose.