Diocese of Orange CA

27 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Andrew Christian Andersen

Ordained: 1982
Status: Convicted

Convicted in 1986 of 26 counts of felony molestation of four boys. Sentenced to five years probation after treatment at Servants of the Paraclete. Continued to molest boys while in therapy. Arrested in New Mexico in 1990 for abuse of another youth. Sentenced to six years prison for violating CA probation. Laicized in the mid-1990s. Prior to 2005 there were $4.62M in settlements regarding Andersen.

Fr. Sofronio A. Aranda

Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Died: 03/24/1996
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Aranda was born in the Philippines and arrived in the U.S. in 1975. He worked in Corona CA for five years, and moved to Texas in 1992 or 1993, where he worked in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston as chaplain at a county hospital. Named by the Diocese in 2004 as one of six priests accused of the sexual abuse of minors. Allegations against all six were received during 2003 and were deemed credible. Subject of a $1.55M settlement in 2005. Died in 3/1996 in Houston.

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Br. Gregory Atherton

Order: OSM
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sued in 1993, accused of abuse of three boys. Per the Los Angeles Archdiocese's 2/2004 report, there were five accusers alleging abuse 1967-1986. Three Servite High School students alleged abuse 6/1967-1975; Atherton was assigned to the school as registrar, office manager and music director. The abuse occurred in multiple places, including on road trips from CA to Portland OR, Utah and British Columbia. The Order knew of the abuse by 1990; Atherton was working in 1990 Portland OR at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, also called The Grotto. He was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete in NM for treatment. He was also accused of abusing in the Diocese of Orange CA where two suits were filed in 1/2003. The Diocese settled in 2005 for $4,169,325 but did not include Atherton on its list of accused priests. Reportedly in 2002 he was still a member of his order, still working at The Grotto, under close supervision. He "fully acknowledged" the abuse. His personnel file was released in 2015. The Los Angeles Archdiocese's list in 12/2021 shows Atherton to be deceased.

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Fr. Lawrence J. Baird

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Monsignor. Longtime spokesman for the diocese. Accused in 2002 of sexually abusing a girl who came to him for advice after being abused by Rev. John Lenihan. Baird countersued the plaintiff in 4/2002. His suit was dismissed in 2002 and he was ordered to pay attorney fees for the plaintiff. A second woman also alleged abuse as a child. Continued in active ministry. Retired in 2017.

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Fr. Franklin Buckman

Ordained: 1963
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused of abuse between 1962 and 1984. Per The Archdiocese of Los Angeles's 2004 report there were three accusers. Named in a civil suit. Resigned in 1984 from a parish in the Diocese of Orange "because of the burden of administration." It was later revealed that he resigned because of abuse an allegation. Transferred to the Diocese of Baker, OR. A woman in California alleged he abused her son in 1989. Removed from ministry at some point. Retired to Arizona in 2002. Settlement in 2005 in Orange for $1,959,700. Status as of 8/2016 was "Life of Prayer and Penance." As of 6/2024, Buckman is deceased.

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Fr. Santino Anthony Casimano

Ordained: 1975
Status: Settled

Died: 08/8/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Name sometimes spelled Casamino. Ordained for the Gallup diocese. Moved to the Diocese of Orange in 1976, on loan from Gallup. Navy Chaplain 1980-2000. Accused in 2004 of abuse of the sexual abuse of two brothers while in Orange. Was principal of St. Bernard High School in Uncasville, CT in 2004 when the allegations were made. The Diocese of Orange paid the brothers $4.2M in a 2005 settlement. Died in 2005. Included on the Norwich diocese's list 2/22/2019. On the Gallup diocese's list in 12/2018.

Fr. Richard Delahunty

Ordained: 1965
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Per news in 1/2004, Delahunty had just been placed on leave pending the investigation of an allegation that he sexually molested a boy in 1981. Civil suit filed. Delahunty denied the allegation. His accuser said he notified an administrator at the time of the abuse. Delahunty's name appears on a list released by the Diocese of Orange of six priests accused in 2003 of the sexual abuse of minors. The lawsuit settled in 2005. Returned to ministry in 11/2004 after the Diocese's review board found "no credible evidence" against him. Retired in 2016.

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Directory Listings Compiled by Arellano of OC Weekly

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Fr. Sinon F. Falvey

Ordained: 1945
Status: Sued

Died: 02/7/2005
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Pastor of St. Norbert's in Orange 1976-1989. Supervised abusers John Kenney and John Lenihan while there. Died 2/7/2005 at age 85. Accused in a civil suit filed 6/25/0099 of sexually abusing an altar boy from 1990-1992, after he retired. SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) reports being contacted by other victims.

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Fr. Kevin M. Fitzpatrick

Order: OSM
Ordained: 1954
Status: Sued

Died: 06/5/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused in a 2022 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy, beginning when the boy was age 13 in 1976 and continuing throughout his time as a student at Servite High School in Anaheim. Fitzpatrick was assigned to the high school 1970-1992, where he was a teacher and swim coach. He was transferred in 1993 to a parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, then in 1994 to a parish in Portland OR. Also worked in Milwaukee WI. He died in 1997. Four more former Servite students filed claims of abuse against Fitzpatrick in 9/2022, and three more were filed several months later.

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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.

Fr. Michael A. Harris

Ordained: 1972
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Removed in 1/1994 after the mother of a youth who died of AIDS made allegations against Harris to the Diocese. Accused of the sexual abuse of another male student at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana in 1991, per a 1994 civil suit, which was later dropped. A third accuser settled for $5.2M in 2001. Harris was laicized 11/13/2001. Several other victims filed suits in 2003. Harris worked in both the Diocese of Orange and Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is on lists released by both. Personnel file released in 5/2012. Civil suit settled with Orange for $2M just before trial in 6/2012. Suit filed in 12/2019.

Fr. Bertrand W. Horvath

Order: OFM Conv
Ordained: 1970
Status: Sued

Died: 09/13/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sued in 2002. Accused of the sexual abuse of an altar boy at Mission Viejo in the early 1970s, before the Diocese of Orange was formed. Horvath's order sued the Los Angeles Archdiocese to force them to share responsibility. He left the archdiocese in 1974, then worked in several dioceses, including Amarillo, for many years. Placed on leave and retired in 2001 after the Diocese of Orange notified the Diocese of Amarillo of the abuse. Died in 2012. On the Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/2019.

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Fr. Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez

Ordained: 1983
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Ordained in Peru. Worked in Honduras for a time, arrived in the Diocese of Orange CA in 1987. Left to perform "missionary work" in Peru in the early 1990s. Worked in the Diocese of Fresno 1997-2004. First public identification as accused was in 1/2004. The Diocese of Orange dealt with the allegations "years ago" but didn't tell police until 2004. As of 2009 Jimenez was found to be working as a priest in Madrid but was still listed as part of the Diocese of Chimbote in Peru. Found in 2017 by a news team, working as a hospital chaplain for the diocese in Chimbote. Since leaving Orange in the early 1990s, Jimenez had "bounced around the world" using different versions of his name (e.g. Horacio Jimenez, Edgardo Arrunategui, etc.) The Chimbote bishop said the 2017 news story was false, and that the Orange diocese's list was irrelevant.

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OC Weekly 3.04.05

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Fr. John (Gregory) Knoernschild

Order: OCarm
Ordained: 1970
Status: Settled

Died: 11/14/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused by a former Crespi Carmelite High School student of sexually abusing him in 1977-1978. Knoernschild was in the L.A. archdiocese before Orange was established in 1976. Left the archdiocese in 1996, returned in 1998, and left again in 2001. At least one claim against Knoernschild was included in a $10M settlement with the Order and L.A. Archdiocese in 10/2006. Died 11/14/2010. Included on the Carmelites list of accused 11/22/2020. Added in 1/2021 to the Diocese of Joliet's list, where he was assigned 1970-1974 to Joliet Catholic High School. Included in the IL Attorney General's 5/23/2023 report, which notes two "reported survivors."

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Fr. John Peter Lenihan

Ordained: 1969
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

From Ireland. Told church officials in 1991 that he sexually abused a teenage girl in the 1970s. Church paid $25K to settle lawsuit; allowed him to continue to work. Removed in 9/2001 after he revealed several past sexual relationships with adult women to an L.A. Times columnist (under a pseudonym). In 12/2001, he was accused in a lawsuit of molesting a second teenage girl for two years, starting in the late 1970s. His accuser said she became pregnant and he paid for an abortion. Civil suit settled for $1.2M. Criminal charges dropped in 2003 due to a Supreme Court ruling on statutes of limitation. Laicized 5/28/2002. Personnel file released 11/23/2013. Suspected of fleeing to Mexico after allegations were made in the U.S. In 2006 Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Mexico archbishop, refused to support efforts to find Lenihan and 39 other accused priests who may have fled the U.S. for Mexico .

Fr. John Lord

Ordained: 1983
Status: Settled

Died: 02/15/1989
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Named by the Diocese of Orange as one of six priests accused in 2003 of the sexual abuse of minors. Lord died from complications of AIDS in 2/1989 at age 46. Also known as Father "Jack". He had been at St. Columban Parish for 6 years before his death. Shown as absent on sick leave in the 1988 Catholic Directory. A civil suit was filed in 12/2003 by one plaintiff. Settlement in 2005 of $3,739,842.

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OC Weekly 03.04.05

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Fr. Alexander Manville

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1953
Status: Settled

Died: 04/29/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

A man filed suit in 6/2009 alleging sexual abuse at age 8 by Manville and another priest, Gus Krumm, at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in 1992-1993. Previously, Manville was a faculty member of several high schools, including Bishop Diego High School in Santa Barbara 1960-1973. The plaintiff's brother joined in the suit in 1/2011, alleging abuse by both priests 1990-1994. The Diocese settled in 8/2011; the Order did not. Jury found in favor of the Order in 10/2011. Died 4/29/2016.

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Fr. Thomas Joseph Mohan

Ordained: 1935
Status: Sued

Died: 11/28/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Monsignor. First accused publicly in a lawsuit filed 10/2/2018 by a man who said Mohan sexually abused him as a child over a two-year period, beginning in 1978, when the man was age 10 and Mohan assisted at his parish. He had been grooming the boy for several years. Mohan was a priest of the Chicago archdiocese who retired in 1973 to St. Anthony's in Anaheim CA, where the boy was abused. The man said he had heard from another Mohan victim. The Chicago archdiocese received a second complaint of misconduct in CA. The suit named all bishops in CA and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mohan died in 2002. Included on the Los Angeles archdiocese's list 12/6/2018. It notes a report in 2018 of incidents 1974 or 1975 and 1978-1980. Included on the Chicago archdiocese's list in 10/2022, which notes allegations were substantiated after Mohan's death. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Dominic Nguyen

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Sent from the Diocese of Orange to Idaho in 2002 after an 'affair' with a woman. Was returned in 2003 to Orange after a repairman found child abuse images on his computer at the church in Idaho. The Diocee of Orange immediately placed him on leave. Idaho authorities later determined there was not sufficient evidence of a criminal act. Status per the Orange website in 8/2016 was "voluntary permanent leave." Per the Diocese's list updated 4/2/2019, Nguyen was seeking laicization. The list in 12/2020 shows that Nguyen had been laicized.

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Fr. Gordon John Pillon

Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Died: 04/26/2012
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Placed on leave in 5/2006 by the Peoria diocese after it learned of allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the early 1980s in the Diocese of Orange. He joined the Peoria diocese in 1990s. Also worked in Charlotte NC 1996-1999. In 4/2009 a former priest filed suit alleging abuse by Pillon when he was a teenager in CA. This plaintiff was forced out of the priesthood after he told the Peoria diocese about the abuse in 2006. There was also an accusation in Peoria. Reportedly in 2009 was teaching at the University of Northern VA in Prague. Name included on the Peoria diocese's list in 12/2018. On Charlotte diocese's list 12/29/2019, where he worked on loan 1996-1999. Pillon died in 2012. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report, which notes two "reported survivors."

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Fr. Edward Poettgen

Ordained: 1980
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused in a lawsuit filed in 6/2019 of molesting a boy, age 6, while assigned to a St. Polycarp in Stanton in 1994. The boy was a student at the parish school. Poettgen's accuser first came forward in 1/2019; parishioners were not informed. The Diocese said Poettgen was placed on administrative leave at some point before 1/29/2020, although a plaintiff's attorney stated in late 1/2020 that Poettgen told him he was still in active ministry as pastor of St. Boniface in Anaheim. Remains pastor of St. Boniface in 11/2024.

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Fr. Timothy Ramaekers

Ordained: 1982
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

The Diocese notified parishioners in 10/2010 that a man had recently alleged that he was sexually abused as a minor by Ramaekers in 1986, when Ramaekers was assigned to St. Justin Martyr in Anaheim. At the time of the notification, Ramaekers was pastor of St. Joseph's in Placentia, a position he had held since 1997. The Diocesan Review Board found no credible evidence to support the allegation, and Ramaekers was kept in ministry. The same accuser filed suit in 2009 alleging abuse by three former priests and a lay employee. Ramaekers denied the allegation.

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Fr. Luis Eduardo Ramirez

Order: OAR
Ordained: 2003
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Arrested in 1/2008 after taking a 17-year-old boy to a motel room to "counsel" him. His Order bailed him out. In 6/2008 he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and burglary; other misdemeanor charges were dismissed. Admitted to inappropriately touching the youth. His lawyer said it was "bad judgment." Sentenced to six months in jail in 8/2008 and three years probation. Released from jail in 3/2009. All privileges removed.

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Fr. John Edward Ruhl

Order: CM
Ordained: 1964
Status: Settled

Died: 04/17/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Ordained for the Vincentians. Incardinated in 1983 into the Diocese of Orange. The Diocese knew of an allegation in 1992. Accused of the sexual abuse of at least three minors 1970-1982. Named in the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report. Included on the Diocese of Orange's list. Named in at least one civil suit. One $500K settlement in 2005. Personnel file released in 9/2013. Also worked in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, MO. Per the Diocese of Orange's website 8/12/2016, Ruhl's status was "Life of Prayer and Penance." Named in a 10/2018 lawsuit. Died 4/17/2018. Included on the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/2019.

Deacon Cesar Salazar

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1993
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Reportedly in 7/2003, Salazar had just been placed on leave while the Diocese investigated charges that he downloaded child abuse images. Charges first surfaced in 2001. Police found over 100 images but declined to file charges because of lack of evidence. The FBI also investigated. Salazar was sent for counseling. Laicized at some point.

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Fr. John A. Sheahan

Ordained: 1960
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Accused of abuse of four minors 1961-1965, per the 2004 Los Angeles Archdiocesan Report. A civil suit filed in 12/2003 includes allegations that he abused three minors during the relevant time frame. Note that name is spelled Sheehan in the civil suit. Sheahan had brain surgery in the early 1970s and then medical retirement.

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Fr. Gerardo Jarencio Tanilong

Ordained: 1962
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Orange CA

Arrived from the Philippines in 1986; incardinated into the Diocese in 1990. Monsignor. Reportedly in 7/2003, Tanilong was arrested after a 15-year-old girl complained that he had molested her earlier in the week. Placed on leave. Entered a plea of guilty on 1/30/2004 and in 4/2004 was sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation. Privileges permanently suspended. On the sex offender registry in 2/2012; had been in violation of registration requirements since 10/2009. Died sometime before 8/12/2016, per the diocesan status list.

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Assignment Records OC Weekly 03.04.05

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

27 Accused in This Diocese

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