Fr. Robert C. Foley

Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per a 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. A civil suit settled. Per the diocese’s website in 8/2016, Foley’s status was “voluntary permanent leave”. The diocese’s list updated 4/2/2019 notes that he is living a life of prayer and penance. Its list in 12/2020 shows that Foley was seeking laicization.


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