Accused California Priests: Father Joseph D. Pina

The Catholic Church, the Cub Scouts of America, and the YMCA are among the prominent community organizations under investigation for widespread sexual abuse claims in recent years. Some California citizens are survivors of sexual abuse by authoritative persons, including members of the clergy, who often assaulted them when they were children. While many of these cases result in court proceedings, the Church often attempts to settle matters privately to avoid further media scrutiny.

Clergy sexual abuse or misconduct refers to any circumstance in which a clergy person uses their position of authority to attract, exploit, and harm a congregation member through sexual abuse. One such example is Father Joseph D. Pina, accused of sexually assaulting minors in California.

Assignments

Before his leave in 1999, Fr. Pina served in the following parishes:

St. Bernard, Los Angeles, CA

Life and Charges

Fr. Pina received his ordination as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1972. According to media sources, a least two female victims came forward to accuse the reverend of sexual abuse from 1979 to 1990. The Archdiocese was aware of Fr. Pina’s sexual misbehavior and referred him to St. John Vianney and Del Amo churches, both recognized for rehabilitating priests suspected of child sexual assault.

In 1999, the Archdiocese put him on indefinite leave. Fr. Pina was investigated by authorities in 2002 on allegations of sexually molesting a 14-year-old child while working at St. Alphonsus in Los Angeles in the 1970s. Fr. Pina was implicated in a child sexual assault case in 2003.

In 2006, the Archdiocese declared him laicized. Fr. Pina allegedly admitted that he did have a sexual relationship with a minor.

Punishment

In 1999, Fr. Pina was placed on inactive leave, and in 2002, a police investigation of Fr. Pina took place, resulting in a legal complaint in 2003. During the course of the investigation, Fr. Pina became a community engagement supervisor for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2002 to 2013. The Los Angeles Archdiocese reportedly alerted the Los Angeles Unified School District about its concerns regarding Fr. Pina before he was recruited by the district in 2002.

In 2006, Fr. Pina was declared laicized, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had him added to the list of clergy persons suspected of child sexual abuse.

How We Can Help

For survivors of child sexual assault, a “look back window” under the California Child Victims Act has extended the reporting period of abuse from age 26 to 40. This law, scheduled to run until December 31, 2022, empowers survivors to confront their abusers and demand justice for the trauma experienced at the hands of clergy members.

Herman Law is a California-based law practice representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other members of the clergy. Our dedicated team helps victims find justice against their abusers. Contact us right away to discuss your sexual abuse case against Fr. Joseph D. Pina or any clergy persons in California. We are here to help you hold your abuser accountable for their actions.

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Accused California Priests: Father Joseph D. Pina

Assignments

Life and Charges

Punishment

How We Can Help