Fr. Joaquin V. Resma
From the Philippines. Pastor of Our Lady of Health in Las Cruces NM 1978-83. (El Paso diocese until Las Cruces NM diocese formed in 1982.) Member of Society of St. John Vianney. Died 5/1/83. Accused in a 6/18 lawsuit of sexually abusing an altar boy in 1978 at Our Lady of Health. Four alleged victims joined the suit, which settled. Per the parish’s website, Resma and his brother, also a priest, were magicians who “worked very well with young children and youth.” A lawsuit filed in 12/18 claimed Resma raped a 10-year-old girl on multiple occasions in the late 1970s. His accuser said that when she age was 8 or 9, Resma would kiss her “like I was an adult.” She said he would have girls sleepover three or four at a time in the rectory living room, then take them one at a time to his bedroom. Another suit was filed in 2021 and was set to go to trial as of 8/21.
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