Diocese of Santa Rosa ACCUSED PRIESTS
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa is one of California’s smallest dioceses in terms of population. It includes Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties.
In 2019, California enacted a law creating a three-year window for survivors of child sexual abuse, no matter their current age or when the abuse happened, to bring civil lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions allowing the abuse to persist. With the passage of that revolutionary law, numerous victims came forward and filed lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Church and the Diocese of Santa Rosa, accusing priests of sexually abusing minors.
In December 2019, two men filed a lawsuit in Sonoma County Superior Court, alleging that a priest assigned to the Diocese of Santa Rosa sexually abused them when they were children while attending a church camp. The men claimed that a now-defrocked priest, Gary Timmons, started molesting them when they were around 10 or 11 at Camp St. Michael in Mendocino County. The lawsuit also alleged that the Catholic Church had reason to know that Timmons was a child molester but allowed Timmons to continue having contact with children.
Several other victims filed lawsuits naming Timmons as their abuser. Timmons served four years in prison after a court convicted him of child molestation. The lawsuit asked for triple damages under a California law allowing such a steep increase where a plaintiff can prove that the Church engaged in a systemic cover-up.
In 2019, the Diocese of Santa Rosa released a list of priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse. Of the 39 clergy members named, 17 faced accusations of committing sexual abuse in locations outside the Diocese. The list includes the following priests: Joseph Alzugaray, Carmelo Baltazar, Edward F. Beutner, Anthony Bolger, David Brusky, John Crews, Kevin Dunne, Don Eagleson, Don D. Flickinger, J. Patrick Foley, Francis (John) Ford, Ruben Garcia, Patrick Gleeson, Patrick A. Hannon, Austin Peter Keegan, Michael Emmet Kelly, Don Kimball, Bruce Maxwell, Patrick McCabe, John A. Meenan, John Moriarty, Francis E. Neville, Mark O’Leary, Vincent O’Neill, Francisco Javier Ochoa, Ted Oswald, Xavier Pallathuparambil, Thomas Parker, Daniel Polizzi, Celestine Quinlan, John Rogers, Anthony J. Ross, Alfredo Sobalvarro, Gary Timmons, Francis Verngren, James Walsh, Bernie Ward, Ron Wiecek, and Vincent A. Yzermans.
After the Diocese released the 39 names of abusive priests, California’s North Coast Journal of Politics, People, and Art issued a scathing article, accusing the Diocese of Santa Rosa of shuffling priests from parish to parish whenever accusations of sexual abuse arose. According to the report, Humboldt County became a particular dumping ground for child molesters, noting that 10 of the 39 priests listed had an assignment to work in Humboldt County.
According to a victim’s advocate, the Church intentionally moved priests into areas with “vulnerable populations” who were less likely to complain about abusive conduct, such as immigrant communities and poor or rural communities like Humboldt County. Additionally, the average assignment for a priest is usually about six years in one place, but the Diocese of Santa Rosa transferred priests much more frequently, suggesting that the Church’s way of dealing with the problem was to simply move priests to avoid backlash, setting them up where they could prey on new victims.
One of the most well-known cases of sexual abuse in the Diocese involved former Priest Patrick Joseph McCabe, accused of molesting six minors between 1973 and 1981 while in his home country of Ireland. Several lawsuits came against the Diocese of Santa Rosa containing accusations that McCabe was allowed to serve as a priest in the Diocese in 1983, even though church officials knew he had sexual abuse accusations against him in the 1970s.
The Church forced McCabe to resign from his assignment in Humboldt County after he faced new accusations of molesting four boys. The US extradited McCabe to Ireland in 2011 to face criminal charges there. According to the lawsuit against the Diocese, church officials knew that McCabe had gone to a treatment center in New Mexico for pedophilia. Still, the Diocese continued to allow him to be in close contact with children.
If you or someone you love suffered sex abuse at the Diocese of Santa Rosa, contact our compassionate team of sexual abuse lawyers at Herman Law today for a free consultation.
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles April 29, 1967
Incardinated in the Diocese of Santa Rosa June 17, 1996
Accused in 1993 for 1967-1972 abuse in Los Angeles
Cleared by LA / Retired 10-31-11 Deceased 1-31-14
Ordained for the Diocese of Malolos, Philippines June 6, 1960
Chaplain Queen of the Valley Hospital 1981-82
Left the Diocese of Santa Rosa 11-24-82 Arrested and sentenced 1985
Deceased (San Diego Diocese website)
Ordained for the Diocese of Superior 1965
Assigned to Mont LaSalle in Napa in 1987
There are no specific details about allegations against him
Deceased 2008
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa December 19, 1969
Excardinated to Honolulu 6-18-84
Accused in 1994 for abuse of a minor in 1972-1973
In 1994 notified Honolulu of accusation
Deceased 1-7-2015
Religious Priest Ordained June 9, 1952
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa1981-1985
Allegation made in 2002 for abuse in 1980’s
Reported to DA in 2002
Deceased 2-1-2014
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa February 14, 1971
Accusation raised by man’s widow 2-1-2013 for 1971-75 actions
Reported to Police February 2013
No Assignment / Retired 2013
Religious Brother
Accused in 2002 for 1993 abuse elsewhere
Lived at Franciscan Hermitage, Sebastopol 11-19-04 to 7-31-05
Current status unknown
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa April 13, 1985
Accused in 2002 of abuse in 1971 prior to ordination
Out of Ministry 4-30-02
Deceased 10-22-2004
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Fresno 1964
Civil suit filed 8-9-11
Chaplain to Christian Brothers Novitiate 1981 to1983
Retired / No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of San Diego 1973
Listed by the San Diego Diocese in 2018
Provided many Missions and Parish Retreats 1998-2006 3
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Incardinated in the Diocese of Santa Rosa January 21, 1971
Belated claim of abuse as a Franciscan prior to 1971
Abuse occurrence in Diocese of Santa Rosa 1974
On Leave January 1, 1979
Deceased 10-21-84
Ordained for the Diocese of Boise 1972
Named in a civil suit 2-21-94
Served in Diocese of Santa Rosa beginning 11-1973
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Deceased
Ordained for the Diocese of Sacramento June 10, 1947
Incardinated with the Diocese of Santa Rosa when established on 2-21-62 Accused in 2004 of abuse 1968-72
Retired 8-21-89
Deceased 4-15-91
Religious Priest Ordained July 10, 1949
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1980 to 1981
Accused in 2000 of abuse 1981
Deceased 1993
Ordained for the Archdiocese of San Francisco June 9, 1962
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1976-81
Accused in 2000 of abuse 1976-81
Removed / Moved to Mexico 1981
Stripped of Duties by San Francisco 1982
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa May 15, 1971
Accused in 1999 of abuse 1971-99
Suspended 10-24-99 / Laicized 10-15-04
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa May 24, 1969
Accused in 1990 of abuse in the 1980’s
On Leave / Removed 1990 Convicted in 2002
Deceased 9-15-2006
Religious Priest Ordained 1975
Accused in 2002 and removed from all ministry 2002
Chaplain at USCG Training Center Petaluma 1989 to 1992
In residence at Saint James, Petaluma at that same time
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Dublin May 21, 1961
Served in Diocese of Santa Rosa 1983-86
Abuse occurrence in the Diocese of Santa Rosa1980’s
Removed 2-27-1986 / Laicized 3-11-1988
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa June 5, 1965
Accusation 1960’s
On Leave 1971 / Laicized 5-23-1975
Deceased 4-21-2009
Religious Brother
Christian Brothers’ Retreat House in St. Helena from 1974-78
The Diocese of Santa Rosa has no record of his presence
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka about 1973
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa1983-84
Accused in 1993 of abuse in1983
Deceased 10-2002
Religious Priest Ordained May 19, 1985
Accused in 2002 of acts in Southern California from 1974-1977
Chaplain at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital 1993-2002
Permanently removed from ministry 4-30-2002
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa May 21, 1971
Accused of abuse in the late 1970’s
Dismissed / Retired 1996
Deceased 11-12-1998
Ordained for the Jesuits July 4, 1969
Incardinated with the Diocese of Santa Rosa 7-11-1991
Abuse occurrence 2006
Laicized 6-29-2009
Deceased 11-30-2009
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa June 6, 1984
Accused in 2008
Permanently Removed from Ministry 2008
Deceased 7-4-2013
Ordained for the Diocese of Vijayapuram, India December 22, 1952
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 2-2-84 to 4-13-84
Dismissed from the Diocese of Santa Rosa 4-13-84
Deceased (India) 5-29-2004
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa April 13, 1985
Accused in 2007 of abuse in 1988-89
Police Report 7-10-2007 / Laicized May 2008
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa June 7, 1969
Transferred to the Diocese of San Diego 5-30-70
Accused in 1996 / Removed from ministry 1997
Deceased 2003
Religious Priest Ordained 1957
Named in 2003 civil suit for abuse between 1957-1962
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1962 to 1968
Deceased 1970
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa May 23, 1976
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa to 9-95 / Accused in 1995
Deceased 11-8-1995
Ordained for the Diocese of Joliet November 11, 1972
Incardinated with the Diocese of Santa Rosa 8-1-97 5
Accused in 2002 for abuse in Joliet in 1981
Permanently removed April 2002
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for Archdiocese of Washington, DC May 8, 1971
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1972 to 1976
Out of Ministry since 2003
Ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa May 6, 1967
Served 6-67 to 3-94
Arrested and imprisoned 10-1995 / Laicized 5-15-2001
Religious Brother
Mont LaSalle 1969-84 and at Justin Siena 1984
Retired 2002 Tutored in math at Saint Apollinaris 1990 – 2002
Deceased 12-2-2003
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained for Archdiocese of San Francisco March 20, 1943
Incardinated with the Diocese of Santa Rosa when established on 2-21-62 Deceased 12-3-93
Accusation made in 2005 of abuse in 1965
Religious Priest Ordained 1977
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1978-1979
Accusation made in 2008
Convicted of child pornography related crime 8-2008
Left priesthood 1979 or 80 / Present ecclesial status unknown
Religious Priest Ordained 1971
Served in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1970’s
Accusation made to his Religious Community in 2010
Present status unknown
Ordained for the Diocese of St Cloud June 2, 1951
Listed as: On Duty at the Diocese of Santa Rosa 1975-1976
File shows correspondence with Bishop Hurley in 1975
No record of any assignment in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
Deceased 5-4-95
No known accusations in the Diocese of Santa Rosa
All Consultations are FREE and Confidential
* REQUIRED INFORMATION