Fr. Robert M. Van Handel
Founding director of Santa Barbara Boys’ Choir and principal of St. Anthony’s Seminary High School. Admitted to his pedophilic behavior to his Provincial in 1992; sent to treatment. May have sexually abused 150 boys, ages 8-12. Charged 1994 with abuse of students. Convicted. Sentenced 8/1994 to eight years prison for abuse of one. Released in 2002. Named in several civil suits. Reportedly abused six boys 1970-1982. Four claims settled in 2006. Personnel File released in 5/2012; may have been laicized 7/23/1997. On sex offender registry in 1/2012. On Santa Barbara Province Franciscans’ list 5/31/2019. It notes report in 1992 of abuse of minors 1977-1984. On Oakland diocese’s list in 2019. Accused along with Msgr. Vincent McCabe in a 6/2022 lawsuit of abuse of a fifth-grade boy in 1989. Per plaintiff’s attorney, Van Handel told his superiors in the 1970s that he was attracted to young boys.
- BA.org Assignment Record
- L.A. Times Database 04.20.06
- Santa Barbara Province Franciscans List 05.31.19
- Link to additional articles prior to 12.31.11
- Fox News 05.22.12
- CBS Los Angeles 05.23.12
- San Antonio Express News 05.23.12
- Personnel file posted on BishopAccountability 05.23.12
- LA Times 05.23.12
- Christian Post 05.24.12
- The Patch 06.01.12
- San Antonio Express News 06.01.12
- Daily Mail (UK) 06.02.12
- KVOR 06.02.12
- LA Times 01.15.13
- Get Religion 01.16.13
- Santa Barbara Province Franciscans List 05.31.19
- Diocese of Oakland List 06.01.19
- SNAP 11.13.19
- Santa Barbara Independent 06.20.22
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