Diocese of Orange CA - BishopAccountability.org

27 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Andrew Christian Andersen

Ordained: 1982
Status: Convicted

Convicted in 1986 of 26 counts of felony molestation of four boys. Sentenced to five years probation after treatment at Servants of the Paraclete. Continued to molest boys while in therapy. Arrested in New Mexico in 1990 for abuse of another youth. Sentenced to six years prison for violating CA probation. Laicized in the mid-1990s. Prior to 2005 there were $4.62M in settlements regarding Andersen.

Fr. Sofronio A. Aranda

Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per March 1996 obituary, Aranda was born in the Philippines and arrived in the U.S. in 1975. Worked in Corona for five years. Moved to Texas in 1992 or 1993, where he worked in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston as chaplain at a county hospital. Named by the diocese in 2004 as one of six priests accused of the sexual abuse of minors. Allegations against all six were received during 2003 and deemed credible. Subject of $1.55M settlement in 2005. Died in 3/1996.

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Orange Diocesan Personal Record
Directory Listings Compiled by Arellano of OC Weekly

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Br. Gregory Atherton

Order: OSM
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sued in 1993, accused of abuse of three boys. Per LA archdiocese's 2/04 report, there were five accusers alleging abuse 1967-86. Also accused of abusing in the Diocese of Orange where two suits were filed in 1/03. Orange settled in 2005 for $4,169,325 but did not include Atherton on its list of accused priests. Reportedly in 2002, he was still a member of his order, working at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother in Portland, OR, under close supervision. The L.A. archdiocese's list in 12/21 shows Atherton to be deceased.

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Fr. Lawrence J. Baird

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Monsignor. Longtime spokesman for the diocese. Accused in 2002 of abusing a girl who came to him for advice after being abused by Rev. John Lenihan. Baird countersued plaintiff in 4/02. His suit was dismissed in 2002 and he was ordered to pay attorney fees for plaintiff. A second woman also alleged abuse as a child. Continued in active ministry. Retired in 2017.

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Fr. Franklin Buckman

Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused of abuse between 1962 and 1981. Per L.A. archdiocese's 2004 report there were three accusers. Named in a civil suit. Resigned in 1984 from parish in Orange diocese "because of the burden of administration." Later revealed that he resigned because of abuse allegation. Transferred to the Diocese of Baker, OR. A woman in California alleged he abused her son in 1989. Removed from ministry at some point. Retired to Arizona in 2002. Settlement in 2005 in Orange for $1,959,700. Status as of 8/16 was "Life of Prayer and Penance."

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Fr. Santino Anthony Casimano

Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Died: 08/8/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Ordained for the Gallup diocese. Moved to the Diocese of Orange in 1976, on loan from Gallup. Navy Chaplain 1980-2000. Accused in 2004 of abuse of two brothers while in Orange. Principal of St. Bernard High School in Uncasville, CT in 2004 when allegations made. Name sometimes spelled Casamino. Orange diocese paid the brothers $4.2M in a 2005 settlement. Died in 2005. On Norwich diocese's list 2/22/19. On Gallup diocese's list in 12/18.

Fr. Richard Delahunty

Ordained: 1965
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per news in 1/04, Delahunty had just been placed on leave pending investigation of allegation that he sexually molested a boy in 1981. Civil suit filed. Delahunty denied the allegation. Plaintiff says he notified an administrator at the time of the abuse. Delahunty's name appears on list released by the Orange diocese of six priests accused in 2003 of sexual abuse of minors. Settled in 2005. Returned him to ministry in 11/04 after review board found "no credible evidence" against him. Retired in 2016.

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Directory Listings Compiled by Arellano of OC Weekly

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Fr. Sinon F. Falvey

Ordained: 1945
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Died 2/7/05 at age 85. Pastor of St. Norbert Church in Orange 1976-1989. Supervised abusers John Kenney and John Lenihan while there. He, himself, was named as abuser in civil suit file 6/25/09. Allegedly abused an altar boy from 1990-1992 after he retired. SNAP reports being contacted by other victims.

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Fr. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Died: 06/5/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused in a 2022 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, beginning when the boy was age 13 in 1976 and continuing throughout his time as a student at Servite High School in Anaheim. Fitzpatrick was assigned to the high school 1970-1992, where he was a teacher and swim coach. He was transferred in 1993 to a parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, then in 1994 to a parish in Portland OR. Also worked in Milwaukee WI. He died in 1997. Four more former Servite students filed claims of abuse against Fitzpatrick in 9/22, and three more were filed several months later.

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Fr. Robert C. Foley

Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per 2002 report, in 1985 then-chancellor of the Orange diocese, Michael Driscoll, who was later Bishop of the Diocese of Boise, wrote to a priest in Liverpool, England, begging him to take Foley. Foley had just admitted to molesting an 8-year-old boy during a camping trip organized by St. Justin Martyr parish. The boy's mother threatened to go to the police; Foley was in jeopardy of arrest and possible imprisonment in he stayed in the U.S. Foley left for England and never faced prosecution for the molestation. Civil suit settled. Per the diocese's website in 8/16, Foley's status was "voluntary permanent leave". The diocese's list updated 4/2/19 notes that he is living a life of prayer and penance. Its list in 12/20 shows that Foley was seeking laicization.

Fr. Michael A. Harris

Ordained: 1972
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Removed 1/94 after mother of one youth who died of AIDS made allegations against Harris to diocese. Accused of abuse of another male student at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana in 1991 per 1994 civil suit, which was later dropped. A third accuser settled for $5.2M in 2001. Laicized 11/13/01. Several other victims filed suits filed in 2003. Harris worked in both Orange and Los Angeles and is on lists released by both. Personnel file released 5/12. Civil suit settled with Orange for $2M just before trial 6/12. Suit filed in 12/19.

Fr. Bertrand W. Horvath

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1970
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sued in 2002. Accused of abuse of an altar boy at Mission Viejo in the early 1970s, before the Orange diocese was formed. Horvath's order sued the L.A. archdiocese to force them to share responsibility. He left the archdiocese in 1974, then worked in several dioceses, including Amarillo for many years. Placed on leave and retired in 2001 after the Diocese of Orange notified the Diocese of Amarillo of the abuse. Deceased. On Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/19.

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Fr. Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez

Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Ordained in Peru. Worked in Honduras for a time, arrived in the Diocese of Orange CA in 1987. Left to perform "missionary work" in Peru in the early 1990s. Worked in the Diocese of Fresno 1997-2004. First public identification as accused in 1/04. Diocese of Orange dealt with the allegations "years ago" but didn't tell police until 2004. As of 2009 Jimenez was found to be working as a priest in Madrid but was still listed as part of the Diocese of Chimbote in Peru. Found in 2017 by a news team, working as a hospital chaplain for the diocese in Chimbote. Since leaving Orange in the early 1990s, Jimenez had "bounced around the world" using different versions of his name (e.g. Horacio Jimenez, Edgardo Arrunategui, etc.) The Chimbote bishop said the 2017 news story was false, and that the Orange diocese's list was irrelevant.

Assignments:

OC Weekly 3.04.05

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Fr. John Knoernschild

Order: OCarm
Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Died: 11/14/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused by former Crespi Carmelite High School student of sexually abusing him in 1977-78. Knoernschild was in LA archdiocese before Orange was established in 1976. Left archdiocese in 1996, returned in 1998, and left again in 2001. At least one claim against Knoernschild included in $10M settlement with Order and LA Archdiocese 10/06. Died 11/14/10.

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Fr. John Peter Lenihan

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

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.

Fr. John Lord

Ordained: 1983
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Named by the Diocese of Orange as one of six priests accused in 2003 of the sexual abuse of minors. Lord died from complications of AIDS in 2/89 at age 46. Also known as Father "Jack". He had been at St. Columban Church for 6 years before his death. Shown as absent on sick leave per 1988 Catholic Directory. Civil suit was filed in 12/03 by one plaintiff. No date given for alleged abuse or info on parish where it occurred. $3,739,842 settlement in 2005.

Assignments:

OC Weekly 03.04.05

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Fr. Alexander Manville

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1953
Status: Settled

Died: 04/29/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

A man filed suit in 6/09 alleging abuse at age 8 by Manville and another priest, Gus Krumm, at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in 1992-93. Previoulsy, Manville was on faculty of several high schools, including Bishop Diego High School in Santa Barbara 1960-73. Plaintiff's brother joined in the suit in 1/11, alleging abuse by both priests 1990-94. Diocese settled 8/11; order didn't. Jury found in favor of order 10/11. Died 4/29/16.

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Fr. Thomas Joseph Mohan

Ordained: 1935
Status: Sued

Died: 11/28/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Monsignor. First accused publicly in a lawsuit filed 10/2/18 by a man who said Mohan sexually abused him as a child over a two-year period, beginning in 1978, when the man was age 10 and Mohan was in residence at his parish. Mohan was a priest of the Chicago archdiocese who retired in the early 1970s to St. Anthony's in Anaheim, where the boy was allegedly abused. The man said he had heard from another Mohan victim. Chicago archdiocese received a second complaint of misconduct in CA. The suit named all bishops in CA and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mohan died in 2002. Included on the Los Angeles archdiocese's list 12/6/18. It notes a report in 2018 of incidents 1974 or 1975 and 1978-1980. Included on the Chicago archdiocese's list in 10/22, which notes allegations were substantiated after Mohan's death.

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Fr. Dominic Nguyen

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sent from the Diocese of Orange to Idaho in 2002 after an 'affair' with a woman. Was returned in 2003 to Orange after a repairman found child porn on his computer at the church in Idaho. Orange immediately placed him on leave. Idaho authorities later determined there was not sufficient evidence of a criminal act. Status per the Orange website in 8/16 was "voluntary permanent leave." Per the diocese's list updated 4/2/19, Nguyen was seeking laicization. The list in 12/20 shows that Nguyen had been laicized.

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Fr. Gordon John Pillon

Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Died: 04/26/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Placed on leave in 5/06 by the Peoria diocese after it learned of allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the early 1980s in the Diocese of Orange. He joined the Peoria diocese in 1990s. Also worked in Charlotte NC 1996-99. In 4/09 a former priest filed suit alleging abuse by Pillon when he was a teenager in CA. This plaintiff was forced out of the priesthood after he told the Peoria diocese about the abuse in 2006. There was also an accusation in Peoria. Reportedly in 2009 was teaching at the University of Northern VA in Prague. Name included on the Peoria diocese's list in 12/18. On Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/19, where he worked on loan 1996-99. Pillon died in 2012.

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Fr. Edward Poettgen

Ordained: 1980
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 6/19 of molesting a boy, age 6, while assigned to a St. Polycarp in Stanton in 1994. The boy was a student at the parish school. Poettgen's accuser first came forward in 1/19; parishioners were not informed. The diocese said Poettgen was placed on administrative leave at some point before 1/29/20, although a plaintiff's attorney stated in late 1/20 that Poettgen told him he was still in active ministry as pastor of St. Boniface in Anaheim.

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Fr. Timothy Ramaekers

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1982
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

The diocese notified parishioners in 10/10 that a man had recently alleged that he was abused as a minor by Ramaekers in 1986, when Ramaekers was assigned to St. Justin Martyr in Anaheim. At the time of the notification, Ramaekers was pastor of St. Joseph's in Placentia, a position he had held since 1997. The review board found no credible evidence to support the allegation, and Ramaekers was kept in ministry. The same accuser filed suit in 2009 alleging abuse by three former priests and a lay employee. Ramaekers denied the allegation.

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Fr. Luis Eduardo Ramirez

Order: OAR
Ordained: 2003
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Arrested 1/08 after he took a 17-year-old boy to a motel room to "counsel" him. His order bailed him out and in 6/08 he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and burglary; other misdemeanor charges were dismissed. Admitted to inappropriately touching the youth. His lawyer said it was "bad judgment." Sentenced to six months in jail in 8/08 and three years probation. Released from jail in 3/09. All privileges removed.

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Fr. John Edward Ruhl

Donate Photo

Order: CM
Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Died: 04/17/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Ordained for the Vincentians. Incardinated in 1983 into the Diocese of Orange. Diocese knew of one allegation in 1992. Accused of abuse of at least three minors 1970-82. Named in archdiocesan report. On list of abusers in Orange diocese. Named in at least one civil suit. One $500K settlement in 2005. Personnel file released 9/9/13. Also worked in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, MO. Personnel file released 10/26/13. Per Orange diocese website 8/12/16, Ruhl's status was "Life of Prayer and Penance." Named in 10/18 lawsuit. Died 4/17/18. On Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19.

Deacon Cesar Salazar

Ordained: 1993
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per July 2003 articles, Salazar had just been placed on leave while the diocese investigated charges that he downloaded child pornography. Charges first surfaced in 2001. Police found over 100 images but declined to file charges because of lack of evidence. FBI also investigated. Salazar was sent for counseling. Laicized at some point.

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Fr. John A. Sheahan

Ordained: 1960
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused of abuse of four 1961-65, per archdiocesan report. Civil suit filed in 12/03 includes allegations that he abused three during the relevant time frame. Note that name is spelled Sheehan in the civil suit. Sheahan had brain surgery in the early 1970s and then medical retirement.

Assignments:

OC Weekly 03.04.05
LA Archdiocesan Report Addendum 11.15.05
LA Times Database 04.20.06

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Fr. Gerardo Jarencio Tanilong

Ordained: 1962
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Monsignor. Per 7/03 articles, Tanilong was arrested after a 15-year-old girl complained that he had molested her earlier in the week. Placed on leave. Had been part of the Diocese for 17 years. Came from the Philippines in 1986; incardinated into the diocese in 1990. Entered a plea of guilty on 1/30/04 and in 4/04 was sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation. Diocese permanently suspended his privileges. On sex offender registry 2/12. In violation of registration requirements since 10/09. Died sometime before 8/12/16, per diocesan status list.

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Assignment Records OC Weekly 03.04.05

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