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Diocese of Orange

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List of Accused Priests in the Diocese of Orange

Within the Catholic Church, many priests have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. Within the Diocese of Orange, priests have sexual abuse allegations against them. The list you see below was composed from a number of different sources, and while not all of the priests on the list have admitted to the abuse, the fact remains that there are allegations against them.

Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse

Often priest sexual abuse wasn’t uncovered until the survivors involved were adults. It can be tough to come forward in cases like these, and because of old statute of limitations involved, even claims that are made aren’t always investigated by the authorities.

Despite that fact, each entry on this list has at least one associated accusation, and where we could, we tried to include a summary of those allegations as well as a list of places the priest served while he was in service to the Church.

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Catholic Diocese of Orange Sex Abuse

Coming forward with an accusation of sex abuse against a priest isn’t always an easy thing to do. Sexual abuse survivors have so much to face, but we can help make the path forward easier. To learn more about the help we’ve provided other victims, please contact our law firm today.

Father Andrew Christian Andersen

  • Ordained: 1982
  • Status: Convicted
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Convicted 1986 of 26 counts of felony molestation of 4 boys. Sentenced to 5 yrs probation after treatment at Servants of Paracletes. Continued to molest boys while in therapy. Arrested in New Mexico in 1990 for abuse of another youth. Sentenced to 6 yrs prison for violating CA probation. Laicized mid-1990s. Prior to 2005 there were $4.62M in settlements regarding Andersen.

Father Sofronio A. (Pon) Aranda

  • Ordained: 1963
  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

In 2004 Diocese named him as one of six priests accused of the sexual abuse of minors. Allegations against all six were received during 2003 and deemed credible by Diocese. Per March 1996 obituary, he was born in the Philippines; came to the states in1975. Worked in Corona for 5 years and moved to Texas in 1992 or 1993. In Texas he served the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. Chaplain at county Hospital. Subject of $1.55M settlement in 2005. Died 3/1996.

Brother Gregory Atherton

  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Servite

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Sued 1993. Accused of abuse of 3 boys.. LA archdiocese counts 5 accusers alleging abuse between 1967-1986. Also abused in Orange Diocese. 2 suits filed there 1/03. Orange made 2005 settlement for $4,169,325 but did not include him in list of abusive priests. Per 2002 article, he is still part of Order and works at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother in Portland, Ore. under close supervision.

Father Lawrence J. Baird

  • Ordained: 1969
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Spokesman for Diocese for many years. Accused in 2002 of abusing a girl who came to him for advice after being abused by Rev. John Lenihan. Baird countersued plaintiff 4/02 but his suit was dismissed in 2002 and he was ordered to pay atty fees for plaintiff. 2nd woman also alleged abuse as a child. Still active as of 8/07 per Diocese website.

Father Franklin Buckman

  • Ordained: 1963
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Accused of abuse between 1962 and 1981. LA archdiocese counts 3 accusers. Named in 1 civil suit. Resigned in 1984 from parish in Orange Diocese "because of the burden of administration." Later revealed that he resigned because of abuse allegation. Later transferred to Baker, Oregon Diocese. Woman in California complained of abuse of son in 1989. Removed from ministry at some point and retired to Arizona in 2002. 2005 settlement in Orange for $1,959,700. Status as of 8/16 was "Life of Prayer and Penance."

Father Santino Casimano (Casamino)

  • Ordained: 1975
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Ordained for the Gallup diocese. Moved to Orange diocese in 1976, on loan from Gallup. Navy Chaplain 1980-2000. Accused in 2004 of abuse of two brothers while in Orange. Principal of at St. Bernard H.S. in Uncasville, CT in 2004 when allegations made. Name sometimes spelled Casamino. Orange diocese paid the brothers $4.2M in a 2005 settlement. Died in 2005. On Norwich diocese's list 2/22/19. On Gallup diocese's list in 12/18.

Father John V. Coffield

  • Ordained: 1941
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Accused of abuse by one man at Dolores Mission in Los Angeles from 1960 to 1962 when accuser was a minor. Named in 1 civil suit filed 12/03. LA archdiocese counts 1 accuser. LA report says that he molested in Orange Diocese but he is not on diocesan list of abusers. A second accuser came forward after civil suit filed. Died 2/2/05 in California.

Father Richard Delahunty

  • Ordained: 1965
  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Jan. 2004 articles say that Delahunty had just been placed on leave pending investigation of allegations that he sexually molested a boy in 1981. Civil suit filed. Delahunty denies the allegation. Plaintiff says he notified an administrator at the time of the abuse. Delahunty's name appears on list released by Orange Diocese of six priests accused in 2003 of sexual abuse of minors. Settled 2005. Diocese returned him to ministry 11/04 after review board found "no credible evidence" against him.

Father Sinon F. Falvey

  • Ordained: 1945
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Died 2/7/05 at age 85. Pastor of St. Norbert Church in Orange 1976-1989. Supervised abusers John Kenney and John Lenihan while there. He, himself, was named as abuser in civil suit file 6/25/09. Allegedly abused an altar boy from 1990-1992 after he retired. SNAP reports being contacted by other victims.

Father Robert Foley

  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Per 2002 report, in 1985, Michael Driscoll, then chancellor of the Orange diocese, 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. Boy's mother threatened to go to the police; Foley was in jeopardy of arrest and possible imprisonment in he stayed in U.S. Foley left for England and never faced prosecution for the molestation. Civil suit settled. Per the diocese's website in 8/16, Foley's status was "voluntary permanent leave". The diocese's list updated 4/2/19 notes that he is living a life of prayer and penance.

Father Michael A. Harris

  • Ordained: 1972
  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Removed 1/94 after Mother of one youth who died of AIDS made allegations against Harris to diocese. Accused of abuse of another male student at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana in 1991 per 1994 civil suit which was later dropped. 3rd accuser settled for $5.2M in 2001. Laicized 11/13/01. Several other victims filed suits filed in 2003. Harris served in both Orange & Los Angeles and is on lists released by both. Personnel file released 5/12. Civil suit settled with Orange for $2M just before trial 6/12.

Father Bertrand W. Horvath

  • Ordained: 1970
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Franciscan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Sued 2002. Accused of abuse of altar boy at Mission Viejo in early 1970s. Order turned around and sued Archdiocese to force them to share responsibility. Left Archdiocese 1974. Worked in several dioceses. Ended up in Amarillo Diocese in Texas for many years. Retired (placed on leave) in 2001 after Orange Diocese notified Amarillo about abuse. Deceased. On Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/19.

Father Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez

  • Ordained: 1983
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Ordained in Peru. Worked in Honduras for a time, arrived in Orange Diocese in 1987. Left to perform "missionary work" in Peru early 1990s. First public identification 1/04. Diocese dealt with the allegations "years ago" but didn't tell police until 2004. As of 2009 he was found to be working as priest in Madrid but still listed as part of Diocese of Chimbote in Peru. Found in 2017 by news team, working as a hospital chaplain for the diocese in Chimbote. Since leaving Orange in early 1990s had "bounced around the world" using different versions of his name (e.g. Horacio Jimenez, Edgardo Arrunategui, etc.) Chimbote bishop said the 2017 news story was false, and Orange diocese list was irrelevant.

Father John Knoernschild

  • Ordained: 1970
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Carmelite

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Accused by former Crespi Carmelite High School student of sexually abusing him in 1977-78. Knoernschild was in LA archdiocese before Orange was established in 1976. Left archdiocese in 1996, came back in 1998, and left again 2001. At least 1 claim against Knoernschild included in $10M settlement with Order and LA Archdiocese 10/06. Died 11/14/10.

Father John Peter Lenihan

  • Ordained: 1969
  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Irish. 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 9/01 after he revealed several past sexual relationships to a LA Times columnist (under pseudonym). In 12/01, he was accused in 2nd lawsuit of molesting a 2nd teenage girl starting in the late 1970s. Civil suit settled for $1.2M. Criminal charges dropped 2003 due to Supreme Court ruling. Laicized 5/28/02. Personnel file released 11/23/13.

Father John "Jack" W. Lord

  • Ordained: 1983
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Diocese of Orange named Lord as one of six priests accused in 2003 of sexual abuse of minors. Lord died from complications of AIDS in Feb. 1989 at age 46. Also known as Father "Jack". He had been at St. Columban Church for 6 yrs before his death. Shown as absent on sick leave per 1988 Catholic Directory. Civil suit was filed in Dec. 2003 by one Plaintiff. No date given for alleged abuse or info on parish where it occurred. $3,739,842 settlement in 2005.

Father Alexander Manville

  • Ordained: 1953
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Franciscan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Man filed suit 6/09 which alleged abuse by Manville and another priest, Gus Krumm, at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in 1992-1993 when he was 8 yrs old. From 1960-1973 Manville was on faculty of Bishop Diego High School. He was a "non-practicing priest" in 2009 and currently lives in retreat house. Plaintiff's brother joined in suit 1/11 alleging abuse by both priests between 1990-1994. Diocese settled 8/11; order didn't. Jury found in favor of Order 10/11.

Father Thomas Joseph Mohan

  • Ordained: 1935
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Monsignor. First accused publicly in a lawsuit filed 10/2/18 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 was in residence at his parish. Mohan was a priest of the Chicago archdiocese who retired in the early 1970s to St. Anthony's in Anaheim, where the boy was allegedly abused. The man said he had heard from another Mohan victim. 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 12/6/18. It notes a report in 2018 of incidents 1974 or 1975 and 1978-1980.

Father Dominic Nguyen

  • Ordained: 1995
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Sent from the Orange diocese to Idaho in 2002 after he had an affair with a woman. Was returned in 2003 to Orange after a repairman found child porn on his computer at the church in Idaho. 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 8/16 was "voluntary permanent leave". Per the diocese's list updated 4/2/19, Nguyen was seeking laicization.

Father Gordon John Pillon

  • Ordained: 1979
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Placed on leave 5/06 by Peoria diocese after it learned of allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to early 1980s in the Diocese of Orange. He joined the Peoria diocese in 1990s. Also worked in Charlotte NC 1996-99. In 4/09 a former priest filed suit alleging abuse by Pillon when he was a teenager in CA. This plaintiff forced out of priesthood after he told the Peoria diocese about the abuse in 2006. There was also complaint by 1 in Peoria. Reported in 2009 to be teaching at Univ. of Northern VA in Prague. On Peoria diocese's list in 12/18.

Father Timothy Ramaekers

  • Ordained: 1982
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

In 10/10, church bulletin noted that one man had recently made allegations of abuse against Ramaekers when he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Justin Martyr Church in 1986. Ramaekers had served as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Placentia, since1997. Diocese never placed him on leave. Review board found no credible evidence to support the allegation. Same accuser filed 2009 suit alleging abuse by 3 former priests and lay employee. Ramaekers given new parish 5/12. He has denied allegations.

Father Luis Eduardo Ramirez

  • Ordained: 2003
  • Status: Convicted
  • D/O: Augustinian Recollects

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Arrested 1/08 after he took a 17 yr old boy to a motel room to "counsel" him. His order bailed him out and in 6/08 he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and burglary; other misdemeanor charges were dismissed. Admitted inappropriately touching the youth. His lawyer said it was "bad judgment." Sentenced to 6 months in jail 8/08 and 3 yrs probation. Released from jail 3/09. All privileges removed.

Father John (Jon) E. Ruhl

  • Ordained: 1964
  • Status: Settled
  • D/O: Vincentian

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Incardinated 1983 into Diocese of Orange. Diocese knew of one allegation in 1992. Accused of abuse of at least three minors 1970-82. Named in archdiocesan report. On list of abusers in Orange diocese. Named in at least one civil suit. One $500K settlement in 2005. Personnel file released 9/9/13. Also worked in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, MO. Personnel file released 10/26/13. Per Orange diocese website 8/12/16, Ruhl's status was "Life of Prayer and Penance." Named in 10/18 lawsuit. Deceased, per diocese's list updated 4/2/19. On Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19.

Deacon Cesar Salazar

  • Ordained: 1993
  • Status: Accused
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

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

Father John A. Sheahan

  • Ordained: 1960
  • Status: Sued
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Accused of abuse of 4 from 1961-1965 per archdiocesan report. Civil suit filed 12/03 includes allegations that he abused 3 during the relevant time frame. Note that name is spelled Sheehan in the civil suit. Brain surgery in early 1970s and then medical retirement.

Father Gerardo Jarencio Tanilong

  • Ordained: 1962
  • Status: Convicted
  • D/O: Diocesan

Sexual Abuse Allegation Notes:

Per 7/03 articles, Tanilong was arrested after a 15-yr-old girl complained that he had molested her earlier in the week. Diocese placed him on leave. Had been part of Diocese for 17 years. Came from the Philippines in 1986; incardinated into the Diocese in 1990. Entered a plea of guilty on 1/30/04 and in 4/04 was sentenced to six months in jail and 3 yrs probation. Diocese permanently suspended his privileges. On sex offender registry 2/12. In violation of registration requirements since 10/09. Died sometime before 8/12/16, per diocesan status list.

DISCLAIMER: The individuals on this list have allegations of sexual abuse against them. Under U.S. law, an allegation, however, does not define guilt. Instead, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty during legal proceedings, whether criminal or civil. These list entries do not imply the individual on the list is criminally guilty or legally liable for civil claims of damage caused by sexual abuse. Instead, it represents those who have been publicly accused of abuse.

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