Fr. Federico Fernandez Baeza

Chicago-St. Louis Province Franciscan, in San Antonio 1981-1987. Accused in a 1988 lawsuit of abusing two boys. Church promised to investigate and asked parents to keep quiet. Sent to treatment. The boys’ older brother said the priest abused him, too. Previously arrested for public indecency. Criminal charges dismissed. Civil suit settled in 7/1988. In 2002 a man said he told Archbishop Flores in 1983 about seeing Fernandez naked in a swimming pool with two girls, ages 10 and 11. Active priest in 5/2011 in Bogota, Colombia. One alleged victim who said Fernandez Baeza molested and raped him as a 5th-grader was convicted of rape and murder in 1995; he was executed in 2011 by the State of Texas. Fernandez Baeza was working in 2015 at Universidad de San Buenaventura in Cartagena, and posting “Sunday Reflections” on a Bogota church’s website. On San Antonio archdiocese’s list 1/31/2019. It notes eight allegations. Removed in 2015 in Colombia by the Franciscans, case referred to the Vatican. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General’s Report, which notes at least eight “reported survivors.” Included on the Franciscans’ Our Lady of Guadalupe Province list of credibly accused as of 1/2024. (Member of the Sacred Heart Pronvince.)