Diocese of Monterey CA - BishopAccountability.org

35 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Phillip Abinante

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Died: 06/27/2008
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused on the Diocese's list 1/2/2019 (name misspelled Philip Abinate). Incidents of abuse in 1970, 1971, 1975 were reported to the Diocese in 2003. Left the priesthood at some point, married and raised a family. Died 6/27/2008.

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Fr. Orlando Alberto Battagliola

Ordained: 1963
Status: Sued

Died: 02/17/1977
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Argentina. Arrived in the Monterey-Fresno diocese in 1963. Reportedly the Diocese knew of allegations against Battagliola in 1967. In the late 1990s a woman told the Diocese that in 1974 Battagliola sexually abused her son, who was then a 14-year-old altar boy, in San Luis Obispo. Battagliola frequently visited their home. One night Battagliola took the boy for a drive, got him drunk, and had sex with him; the boy contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Lawsuit filed in 2003. Battagliola was found murdered in a San Francisco motel room in 2/1977. He had been seen checking into the room with a young man in his early 20s. Personnel file released in 1/2013. Included on the Monterey Diocese's 1/2/2019 list of credibly accused.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Stuart Bede Campbell

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Order: OP
Ordained: 1930
Status: Sued

Died: 09/22/1986
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

A case filed in Fresno County in 2003 or 2004 accused Campbell of abuse 1956-1959, before the Diocese of Monterey was created. Included on the Los Angeles archdiocese's updated list 12/6/2018; it notes a report in 2010 of incidents 1956-1959 and 1978-1980, and death year as 1982. On Dominicans St. Joseph Province list in late 2018; death year noted as 1986, and and that allegation was established in 2007. On Reno diocese's list 4/5/2019; there 1959-1976. It notes death year as 1988. Per Monterey Bishop Ryan, Campbell died in 1986. On Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/2019. On Columbus diocese's list 12/3/2019. On Covington diocese's list 7/31/2020 with death date 9/22/86; the Official Catholic Directory confirms this date. Included in 8/2021 on the Fresno diocese's list of credibly accused. On the Dominicans Holy Name Province list in 10/26/2021. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Br. Marcos Capistran Chavira

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Order: CFC
Status: Settled

Died: 05/17/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Died at age 70 in 5/2002. Accused of sexually abusing at least one male student at Palma High School in Salinas. Settlement in 5/2013 by the Irish Christian Brothers included 9 former Palma High School students, two alleging abuse by Chavira.

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Fr. Thomas Condon

Order: SA
Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Died: 07/29/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused by the Monterey diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report received in 2003 of abuse in 1959. Condon died 7/29/1983.

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Fr. Antonio Cortes

Ordained: 1996
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Arrested in 4/2009 for sexual assault and providing alcohol to 16-year-old boy, as well as child porn possession. Removed from assignment at St. Mary of Nativity in Salinas. Pleaded no contest in 3/2011 to 14 counts. Sentenced to one year in jail and probation. Released in 12/2012. Warrant issued when failed to register as a sex offender. Fled to his home state of Jalisco, Mexico. Civil suit filed 7/11/2011. Settlement with the Diocese in 3/2013. Court struck Cortes original answer in 6/2013; plaintiff to seek default judgment. On diocese's list 1/2/2019; noted to have been laicized.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. C. Edward Crews

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1946
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Ordained for the Jesuits. Assigned briefly to parishes in Monterey, Fresno, and Exeter. In Mexico 1952-1955, then worked at a parish in Oxnard CA for two years, after which he no longer appears in the Official Catholic Directory. Died in 1985. Crews' death notice identifies him as Rev. Edward Crews. Named publicly as accused by the Monterey Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 2002 of abuse in 1954.

Assignments:

BishopAccountability.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Patrick J. Daly

Ordained: 1915
Status: Accused

Died: 11/14/1966
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland. Monsignor. Ordained for the then Monterey-Los Angeles Diocese. Died 11/14/1966. Named publicly as accused on the Monterey diocese's list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 2002 of abuse in 1958.

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Br. Ronald Gordon Drum

Order: OFM
Status: Accused

Died: 04/23/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Entered the order in 1954 and made his final vows in 1961. Named publicly as credibly accused by the St. Barbara Province Franciscans on its list in 9/2020. Drum was accused in 1972 and left the order the same year. Retired to Kihei, Hawaii, where he died in 4/2010. Per his obituary, Drum was a retired typesetter for the State of California.

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Fr. Vincent Dwyer

Order: OCSO
Ordained: 1961
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Trappist monk from Worcester, MA. In 1969 allegedly began sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl, who was a student at Santa Catalina School in the Diocese of Monterey, and continuing off and on for 13 years. In 1995 the woman reached a $75K settlement with his superiors at St. Joseph's Abbey in MA. The woman sued the Monterey Diocese and school 12/2003 for failing to prevent the abuse. Accused in a 1999 lawsuit by a man of sexual abuse. Active priest until at least 2002.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Seminarian Juan Carlos Esquivel

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 1/2/2019. Accused in 2007 of abuse the same year.

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Fr. Carl Faria

Ordained: 1988
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 1/2/2019. Incidents in 1968-1971 and 1973-1976 reported to the Diocese in 2002. Faculties removed in 2002.

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KSBW TV 01.02.19

Fr. Edward Fitz-Henry

Ordained: 1985
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland, where he was ordained. Worked in Monterey CA for over 20 years. Removed after a complaint was received in 1/2011 of the sexual abuse of a boy, age 14, in 2005-2006 at Madonna Del Sasso. More information was received regarding an allegation of sexual abuse involving a minor made about 20 years prior. The Review Board found the earlier allegation to be credible. A civil suit was filed 2/15/2011 by the recent accuser. Fitz-Henry denied all allegations. The suit settled in 2/2012 for $500K. Fitz-Henry also sued the Diocese in 2/2012. It settled in 3/2013. Left the priesthood and requested laicization. Documents were to be released in 1/2014. Included on the Diocese's list 1/2/1209. It notes abuse in 1990 reported in 1991. Laicized.

Seminarian Luis Garcia

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Seminarian. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes abuse in 1982 reported in 2009.

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Fr. Henry Hall

Ordained: 1948
Status: Sued

Died: 07/20/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland. Ordained in Dublin then assigned to Sacred Heart in Merced CA. Pastor for 24 years of Holy Trinity in Greenfield CA. Retired in 1992 to Escondido, continuing to help out in a number of parishes. Died in 2005. Accused in a lawsuit[s] sometime between 2020-2022 of child sexual abuse.

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Fr. Edward T. Haskins

Ordained: 1934
Status: Accused

Died: 02/22/1981
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused on the Monterey diocese's list 1/17/2019, which notes a report in 1996 of abuse in the 1950s and 1960s. Haskins died 2/22/1981. Included in 8/2021 on the Fresno diocese's list of credibly accused.

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Fr. John Jairo Velez

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Order: SM
Ordained: 1988
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Visiting priest from Mexico. Left the El Paso TX diocese in 1990 "under a cloud of suspicion." In 1991 the Monterey Diocese learned of the abuse by Velez and another priest of a Salinas CA altar boy, and met with the victim and his family. The Diocese expelled Velez and notified his Order. Order recalled Velez to Mexico, sending an escort to ensure his return. Diocese says civil authorities were notified in 1991. Sued in 2003 by this plaintiff. The case settled in 5/2009 for $1.2M just before trial. Reportedly worked a as a priest in Mexico before being deported to his native Colombia. Thought in 2009 to be in active ministry in Colombia. Per the Monterey diocese's list 1/2/2019, Velez is deceased.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Seminarian Manuel Jimenez

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Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 1999 of abuse in 1994.

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Fr. Gregory Kareta

Order: OFM Conv
Ordained: 1956
Status: Sued

Died: 10/4/2006
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Publicly accused in the Monterey diocese in 2003 of abuse of an 11-year-old boy in 1973-1974. Three other alleged victims corroborated the charges. Criminal charges were dismissed in 2003 due to Supreme Court ruling regarding statutes of limitations. Kareta also admitted abusing a youth in the 1960s in WI. Accuser told the L.A. Archdiocese in 1985; Kareta was kept active. Died 10/4/2006. Personnel file released in 1/2013. On the Monterey Diocese's list 1/2/2019. It notes a report received in 2002 of abuse in the 1970s. Included on the Fresno diocese's 8/2021 list of credibly accused. Included in 10/2022 on the Chicago archdiocese's list. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Scott McCarthy

Ordained: 1974
Status: Reinstated

Died: 11/12/2023
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Given name Cornelius McCarthy. Report to the Diocese in 2002 of abuse in 1976. Retired. Allegation initially deemed non-credible, changed to credible and faculties removed in 12/2018. Named publicly as credibly accused on the Diocese's list 1/2/2019. McCarthy made an appeal to the Vatican. On 6/25/2021 the Vatican deemed the allegation false, that his removal from ministry was invalid and that his name was to be removed from the Diocese's list of credibly accused. Died in 2023.

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Fr. Michael McDonald

Ordained: 1941
Status: Settled

Died: 11/3/1971
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Ordained in Ireland. Per his obituary, McDonald worked in Nigeria for 8 years and in New Zealand prior to his arrival in CA. Incardinated in 1958 into the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno. In 2004 the Monterey diocese reached a settlement of more than $760K in a civil suit filed in summer 2003. A man alleged that he was sexually abused many times by McDonald at St. Mary of the Nativity in Salinas between 1964 and 1967, starting when he was 10. McDonald died 11/3/1971. Included on the Monterey diocese's 1/2/2019 list of credibly accused. Included in 2021 on the Fresno diocese's list.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Patrick F. McHugh

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Ordained: 1943
Status: Settled

Died: 03/24/1979
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 2/2003 of sexually abusing 4 altar boys while assigned to St. John's in Felton in the 1960s. One accuser said he told his father, who confronted McHugh, and that his father believed McHugh when he denied wrongdoing. McHugh was pastor or St. John's 1963 until his death 3/24/1979. Six plaintiffs settled with the Diocese of Monterey in 9/2006 for $1.5M and lifetime counseling. Included on the Diocese of Monterey's list in 2019.

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Fr. Albert Mengon

Order: SDB
Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Assigned in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Diocese of Oakland, the Diocese of Monterey, and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Worked in Sierra Leone, West Africa 1991-2008. Accused in court documents in two depositions taken in 2006 of abusing boys at a Salesian camp in Watsonville. Kept in ministry. Remains active in 10/2024 at a Salesian parish in San Francisco.

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Fr. Gilbert Roman Meyer

Ordained: 1942
Status: Accused

Died: 11/5/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Monsignor. Named publicly as accused on the Monterey Diocese's list 1/2/2019. Abuse in 1961-1964 reported to the Diocese in 2010. Included in 8/2021 on the Fresno Diocese's list of credibly accused. Retired in 1990. Died 11/5/2020, age 105.

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Fr. Felix Migliazzo

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Died: 05/21/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Ordained for the Maryknoll Order. Arrived in Monterey in 1967, retiring there in 1987. Monsignor. Died 5/21/2005. Named publicly as accused on the Monterey Diocese's list 1/2/2019. Report received in 2007 of abuse in the 1970s.

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Fr. Charles L. Moore

Ordained: 1964
Status: Accused

Died: 12/9/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

"Fr. Charlie." Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes abuse in 1974 reported in 2003. Moore died 12/9/2007.

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Fr. Thomas J. Neary

Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Died: 05/5/1983
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland. Arrived in the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno in 1948, his ordination year. Elevated to Monsignor in 1969. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 2013 of abuse in 1958. Neary died 5/5/1983.

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Fr. Colman O’Connor

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Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 03/3/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

From Ireland. Retired in 1993 and returned to his native country. Named publicly as accused by the Monterey Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 1993 of abuse 1979-1980. O'Connor died 3/3/1996.

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Fr. Joseph Pacheco

Ordained: 1957
Status: Settled

Died: 05/17/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Monsignor. Accused in a 2003 lawsuit of sexually abusing a youth in the 1960s at parishes in Tulare and Merced. Died in 1992. In 12/2006 the Diocese agreed to pay the plaintiff $750K to settle the lawsuit. The Diocese said it is aware of several other victims. Name included on the Diocese's list in 8/2021 of credibly accused.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. John W. Pierson

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Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Died: 12/14/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 1995 of abuse 1973-1979. Pierson died 12/14/1992.

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Fr. Joseph Sheehan

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Order: CSSp
Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused by the Monterey Diocese on its list 1/2/2019, which notes a report in 1992 of abuse 1971-1975. Deceased.

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Fr. Rino Spada

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Died: 08/20/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Named publicly as accused by the Monterey Diocese on its list 1/2/2019. It notes report in 2011 of abuse 1967-1969. Spada died 8/20/2002.

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Fr. Paul R. Valdez

Ordained: 1982
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Reportedly in 2002 an 11-year-old girl told a nun in 1999 that Valdez had placed his hand on her groin during confession in 12/1998. The teacher and the principal embarrassed the child in class, played down the incident to Child Protective Services and warned students not to tell anyone. Police conducted a six-month investigation; no charges filed. Parents sued the diocese in 12/1999; suit settled out of court. Valdez was still active in 2010. Included on the Diocese's list 1/2/2019., which the notes allegation was reclassified in 2019 from non-credible to credible and that Valdez's faculties were removed.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

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Fr. Joseph R. Watt

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Ordained: 1960
Status: Sued

Died: 08/13/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Per the Official Catholic Directory, Watt was ordained for the Trappists and worked at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, known as Fr. M. Marion Watt. Appears to have left the Order and Abbey by 1965, assigned that year in the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno, as Fr. Joseph R. Watt. Accused in a lawsuit sometime between 2020-2022 of sexually abusing an altar boy in the mid-1970s. Watt was the lone priest during that time of Holy Eucharist in Corralitos. The suit claims Watt took the boy to gay bars in San Francisco, got him drunk and told him, "don't tell your parents or I'll cut your balls off." Watt was accused, along with Fr. Michael Marini, in a lawsuit that settled in 1985 of plying a man with drugs to get him to engage in sex acts. Both priests were assigned to St. Joseph's in Capitola during the time in question. News sources in 3/1985 said both men would be leaving the parish - Watt for a long sabbatical and vacation, and Marini because of "stress." There was no mention of the lawsuit or allegations. Watt died 8/13/2002.

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Br. James Wisecaver

Order: SM
Status: Accused

Died: 10/17/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Monterey CA

Professed perpetual vows in 1967. Taught math and science at high schools in San Jose CA, Gardena CA, Wialuko, Maui HI. Also, Dean of Students at Chaminade University of Honolulu, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the San Antonio TX Archdiocese, and Education Professor at Cal State University in Northridge. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 1/2/2019. Report in 1997 of abuse the same year. Died 10/17/2015 in San Antonio.

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