Leader of Visalia's Catholics Dies after Long Illness
By James Ward
Rev. Eric Swearingen, a Tulare County native who rose through the church's hierarchy to lead Visalia's Catholics despite an allegation of sexual abuse, died on Jan. 18 at 58 after a long illness. Swearingen, who was named head pastor over Visalia's four Catholic congregations, George McCann School and the Bethlehem Center in 2014, was put on administrative leave in June 2019 after Bishop Joseph Brennan received more information about a civil case dating back to 2006 in which Swearingen was sued by an ex-altar boy for alleged sexual abuse. The boy said the alleged abuse by Swearingen occurred in the late 1980s and early '90s. No criminal charges were ever filed in that case but a civil jury ruled that Swearingen did abuse the victim. The lawsuit required that the jury find the abuse happened and that the diocese did not have any prior knowledge of the incident. Because of the split decision, the judge ruled the case a mistrial. A second trial was scheduled, but the two sides agreed to binding arbitration well before the court date — a settlement that both sides agreed to keep private. Brennan and the church did not reveal what additional information led to Swearingen's 2019 administrative leave decision. Swearingen, who was fighting the brain cancer that eventually killed him, did not return phone messages to the Times-Delta/Advance-Register in 2019 about his administrative leave. Lawsuits, investigations and controversy The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, presided over at the time by the late Bishop John T. Steinbock, adamantly defended Swearingen in 2006 sex abuse lawsuit. Defense attorneys sought to discredit the victim's testimony by showing him to be dishonest. The church's lawyers argued the victim, who received an administrative discharge from the U.S. Marines after a military psychologist found he had an anti-social disorder that made him a risk to himself and others, had deep flaws in character that cast major doubts on the veracity of his allegations. The victim alleged Swearingen allowed him to stay temporarily in two rectories, one in Fresno and one in Bakersfield in the late 1980s and early '90s Swearingen reportedly gave the teenager refuge from a troubled home life that included an alcoholic father — a story Swearingen verified. But the two testimonies diverged after that, with Rocha saying he was abused and Swearingen denying it. At the time of the trial, Steinbock told media outlets that the victim's case was simply an attempt to extort money from the church. The naming of Swearingen as head of The Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of Visalia eight years later in 2014 created controversy. In a July 2014 editorial, the Times-Delta/Advance-Register wrote, "The church's behavior over the decades has only prolonged a shameful past that continues to plague unsuspecting children and the priests entrusted to lead them. By refusing to deal squarely, and globally, with allegations of abuse, the church is asking Swearingen to bear the heavy burden for a history much larger than his own sealed past." In a guest column in the same July 2014 edition, Larry Drivon, the victim's attorney, blasted the church's decision to elevate Swearingen. He wrote, "Here we have a situation where not only a jury, but also a highly regarded mediator have found Rev. Eric Swearingen to have been a molester of children, and yet the Diocese of Fresno continues to place him in positions of high responsibility." In February 2019, The Diocese of Fresno announced it would review charges of sexual abuse by priests and other church officials dating back to 1922. It's not clear if that review led to Swearingen's leave. The Roman Catholic Church has been shaken worldwide by a wave of clergy sexual-abuse cases since 2002 when the Boston archdiocese was accused of ignoring years of warnings about priests accused of molesting 130 people. In 2018, after a damning grand jury report uncovered 300 abusive priests in Pennsylvania, multiple state attorneys general have opened their own cases, and hundreds of new victims have come forward across the U.S. The Catholic church isn't the only high-profile institution to be roiled by sex abuse scandals. In 2019, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention promised to encourage reforms that protect children and women after a sweeping investigation published by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News found hundreds of victims of sexual misconduct by church leaders or volunteers. In 2017, Dr. Larry Nassar pleaded guilty to abusing hundreds of gymnasts despite complaints to the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics. The Boy Scouts of America has also faced a major sex scandal when a judge ordered in 2019 the release of over 20,000 confidential documents revealing that over 1,000 leaders and volunteers had been banned after being accused of sexual or inappropriate conduct with boys.
A life devoted to faith Swearingen was born and raised in Visalia, attending George McCann and graduated from Redwood High School in 1979. After graduating from high school, Swearingen studied theology at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo and did graduate work at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. Swearingen's first assignment as a priest was in Bakersfield. He later served at parishes in Fresno and Lemoore. He was also a chaplain in the Air National Guard in Fresno — a position that sent him on a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia in 2000. The Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of Visalia referred all questions about Swearingen's death to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno. The Diocese, which stretches across eight counties, including Tulare, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Inyo, Madera, Merced and Mariposa, and serves 1.2 million parishioners, did not immediately return a message left by the Times-Delta/Advance-Register. Swearingen, according to an obituary provided by his family, honed his people skills while working in a traveling circus during the summers of his seminary training. He helped train dogs and learned to play a clown, according to the obituary. Those summers gave him a lifelong love of traveling, including accompanying scores of pilgrims to holy sites around the globe.
Swearingen, according to the obituary provided by the family, had a wonderful sense of humor and was fond of playing practical jokes. He also enjoyed cooking and sharing his culinary creations with friends, family and his fellow priests. Swearingen is survived by his parents, brother Craig (Kristi) Swearingen of Visalia; his sister Stephanie (Robert) Twedt of Mount Vernon, Washington; his nieces and nephews Ryan Swearingen, Lynsi (Brenden) Watson, Robert Twedt, Jr., Kristin Twedt, Hudson Swearingen, Harper Swearingen, Hadley Swearingen, Cameron Watson, Kase Watson and Grace Twedt. A viewing and visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at St. Mary's Church, Visalia. The Vigil/Rosary will follow at the church at 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Jan, 24 at St. Mary's Church, Visalia. Interment will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Fresno. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation in memory of Rev. Eric Swearingen to The Bethlehem Center, Visalia; the Building Fund for St. Charles Borromeo Church in Visalia or their favorite charity.
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