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In California, there are nearly 700 priests accused of sexual abuse with Los Angeles accounting for the majority of accused priests (324 total). Additionally, there are a significant number of priests accused of sexual abuse in San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Bernardino.
Survivors of clergy sexual abuse in California are stepping forward to file civil lawsuits against abusive priests and their associated religious organization that enabled or concealed the abuse. These claims aim to expose systemic failures, hold both individuals and organizations accountable under California law, and pursue financial compensation for survivors. If you are a survivor of sex abuse, assault, or misconduct and have a potential case, call (800) 509-9747 or get help online from our legal team. Our attorneys are here to listen and provide support – completely free and 100% confidential.
Together, We Can Hold Abusers Accountable…
Below are the lists of priests accused of sexual abuse in California and separated by their associated diocese. The lists below do not include any allegations made against administrative staff or volunteers, although you may still be able to file a sex abuse claim against those individuals.
Accused Priest From The Archdiocese of Los Angeles (324)
- Abaya, Rubin
- Aguilar-Rivera, Nicolas
- Ahumada, Arturo
- Albalaa, Pierre
- Altamirano Torres, Sebastian
- Alzugaray, Joseph F.
- Anderson, David E.
- Anderson, Roger
- Antlitz, Aloysius
- Arias, Andreas
- Arzube, Juan (Bp.)
- Austin, Edmund
- Babilonia, Delfin
- Baker, Michael Stephen
- Balak, Frederick R.
- Balbin, Victor
- Baldonado, Felipe
- Barmasse, Kevin P.
- Bauer, John
- Bautista, Gaspar
- Berbena, Christopher
- Berumen, Matthias A.
- Bismonte, Honesto Bayranta
- Boley, Robert
- Bond, Robert
- Boyer, Leland
- Brennan, John Lawrence
- Brown, Lawrence
- Buckley, Michael Daniel
- Burt, Ronald Francis
- Byrom, Ed
- Caboang, Honorato (Henry)
- Cabot, Samuel Charles
- Caffoe, Lynn Richard
- Cairns, James
- Calonge, Felix (Raymond)
- Cano, Juan
- Carey, Cleve W.
- Carriere, (Laurian) David
- Carroll (in Calif.), Michael J.
- Carvajal Hernandez, Raul
- Casey, Edward J.
- Casey, John Joseph
- Casey, Michael Joseph
- Castro, Willebaldo
- Cavagnaro, Camillus
- Cavalli, Vincent V.
- Chandler, David Paul
- Chong, Damien (Patrick)
- Chumik, Gerald
- Cimmarrusti, Mario
- Colosimo, Eugene J.
- Cook, Ozias Bailey
- Corral, Andres S.
- Cosgrove, John V.
- Cotter, Patrick J.
- Cousineau, R. David
- Cremins, Daniel J.
- Cronin, Sean
- Cruces, Angel
- Cuevas, Jose Luis
- Cunningham, Christopher
- Daley, Wallace J.
- Dawson, John H.
- Deady, John P.
- DeFore, Donald
- DeJonghe, Harold J.
- DeLisle, Harold F.
- Devaney, James
- Di Peri, Joseph B.
- Diamond, William L.
- Diesta, Arwyn N.
- Dittmar, Frederick
- Doan, Michael Son Trong
- Dobbins, Dan
- Dober, Edward J.
- Doherty, Roger
- Doherty, Roger
- Doherty (Dougherty), John B.
- Dolan, James E.
- Dove, Thomas J.
- Dowd, Francis
- Duffin, Thomas
- DuFour, Donald J.
- Duggan, Albert Joseph
- Dunne, Joseph
- Duplessius, Donald
- Elanjimannil, Sebastian C.
- Encinas, Andrew Gabriel
- English, Thomas Patrick
- Epperson, Mark
- Falvey, Mark A.
- Farabaugh, Clint
- Farmer, Donald G.
- Farris, John V.
- Fatooh, Charles George
- Faue, Gerald
- Fernando, Arthur (Arturo) N.
- Fernando, Walter
- Fessard, Gerald B.
- Fitzpatrick, James J.
- Fitzpatrick, Thomas Q.
- Flannery, Patrick
- Flynn, Vincent Stephen
- Foley, George
- Ford, James Michael
- Gaioni, Dominic T.
- Gallagher, George Michael
- Garay, Jesus
- Garcia, Christobal
- Garcia, Peter E.
- Garcia, Ramon
- Garcia, Richard Francis
- Garcia, Sergio E.
- Ginty, Denis
- Granadino, David F.
- Grill, Philip L.
- Grimes, James
- Guerrero, Matteo (Mateo)
- Guerrini, Roderic M.
- Gunst, George A.
- Guzman, Vincente
- Hackett, John Joseph
- Hagenbach, Clinton Vincent
- Hanley, Bernard Brian
- Haran, Michael Joseph
- Hardy, Paschal
- Harman/Harmon, Charles
- Hartman, Richard A.
- Havel, Thomas E.
- Hawkes, Benjamin
- Heather, Gerald
- Henry, Richard Allen
- Hernandez, Alfred
- Hernandez, Stephen C.
- Hill, Patrick J.
- Hollinger, William
- Hunt, Michael A.
- Hurley, John J.
- Hurley, Richard
- James, Joseph
- James, Melvin P.
- Jaramillo, Luis
- Jayawardene, Tilak A.
- Jimenez-Pelayo, Emmanuel
- Johnson, David (Dave) E.
- Juarez, Anthony
- Juarez, Robert Jesus
- Kain, Stephen
- Kavanaugh, Philip
- Kearney, Christopher
- Keeney, John
- Kelly, Matthew H.
- Kelly, Patrick M.
- Kenney, John M.
- Killeen, John F.
- Killeen, Sister Mary Joseph
- King, Thomas F.
- Klikunas, Bruce J.
- Kohlbeck, Frank
- Kohnke, John
- Krumm, Gustave R. (Gus)
- Lacar, Sylvio
- Lalor, Michael
- Lane, Timothy R.
- LaPierre, David
- Lawless, Fergus
- Leon, Modesto
- Lindner, Jerold W.
- Llanos, Theodore
- Loofborough, Charles
- Loomis, Richard A.
- Lopez, Joseph
- Lopez Lopez, Fernando
- Lorenzoni, Larry
- Lovell, Lawrence Joseph (LJ)
- Lyons, Denis
- Macias, Juan
- MacSweeney, Eugene
- Mahony (Bp), Roger
- Maio, Eugene A.
- Mancuso, Sylvester E.
- Mark, (unknown)
- Marshall, Thomas Reon Paul, Jr
- Martin, James Aloysius
- Martinez, Ernest
- Martinez, Ruben D.
- Martini, Richard M.
- Mateo, Leonardo G.
- Mateos, Francisco
- Mayer, Charles Patrick
- McCabe, Vincent
- McCarthy, Kevin
- McDonald, Forrest
- McDonough, Daniel
- McElhatton, Thomas
- McGloin, James
- McGrath, Se√°n John
- McHugh, Patrick
- McKeon, Martin
- McNamara, Patrick H.
- Mejia Gonzales, Jose
- Mendez, Jose J.
- Messenger, William P.
- Meyer, Louis L.
- Miani, Titian Jim (Athos?)
- Miller, George Michael
- Mitchell, John Dennis
- Molthen, Vincent
- Monte, Alfred J.
- Moody, Michael Andre
- Morales, Raymond D.
- Murguia, Ralph
- Murphy, Francis J.
- Murphy, Joseph L.
- Murray, Daniel J.
- Newell, Jeffrey
- Nocita, Michael Stephen
- Nwankwo, Cyril
- O’Byrne, John F.
- O’Carroll, Charles W.
- O’Connor, Donal P.
- O’Dwyer, Patrick
- O’Grady, James F.
- O’Leary, Mark
- O’Loghlen, Martin
- O’Rourke, Thomas E.
- Ochoa, Javier
- Orellana Mendoza, Samuel
- Pacheco, Gary
- Pacheco, Mario
- Pecharich, Michael P.
- Peck, Daniel P.
- Peguero, Robert H.
- Pena, Amado
- Perez, Francisco Javier
- Person, James
- Pick, Louis V.
- Pina, Joseph D.
- Pleimann (Plieman), Bernard Thomas
- Plesetz, Gerald John
- Poon, Stanislaus
- Porter, Thomas A.
- Prochnow/Procknow, Joseph/Josef
- Purcell, Patrick
- Quatannens, John C.
- Quinlan, Celestine
- Ramos, Eleuterio
- Reagan (Regan), Joseph Franklin
- Reilly, Terence John
- Reilly, Patrick
- Reina, Nicholas
- Riebe, Loren
- Robinson, James Richard
- Rodie, Ernest
- Rodriguez, Carlos Rene
- Roebert, Michael M.
- Roemer, Donald Patrick
- Roper, William
- Rosas Flores, Fidel
- Rowe, Dorian G.
- Rozo Rincon, Efrain
- Rucker, George Neville
- Ryan, Joseph Francis
- Ryan, Thomas
- Salazar, Alexander
- Salazar, Armando
- Salazar-Jimenez, John Anthony
- Salinas, Gabriel
- Sanchez, Juan Francisco
- Sanchez, Manuel Ontiveros
- Sanchez, Jose L.
- Sandstrom, Lawrence
- Santillan, Juan (John)
- Santomassimo, Sister Agnes
- Satterthwaite, Richard
- Savrianandam, Arulappan
- Schaller, Emmett Gilroy
- Scheier, Maurice
- Scott, George M.
- Selmo, Louis
- Serratos, Avdon (Audon)
- Sharkey, Joe
- Sharpe, Joseph F.
- Shepherd, John R.
- Shimmaly, Edward E.
- Silva-Flores, Fidencio Simon
- Simon, Francis (Raymond E).
- Sintef, Michael
- Spader, Robert William
- Specialle (Speciale), Stephen Emmett
- Sprouffske, Matthew Michael
- Stadtfeld, William (Br Joseph)
- Stallkamp, Louis G.
- Sullivan, Thomas J.
- Sutphin, Carl Maurice
- Tacderas, Joseph
- Tamayo, Santiago L.
- Teluma, Lukas Bao
- Tepe, Raymond (Jose)
- Terra, Michael
- Thing, Tom
- Thorne, Vance Zebulon
- Tresler, Carl D.
- Tugade, Valentine
- Turba, Jerome
- Ugarte, Jose I.
- Van Liefde, Christopher
- Van ter Toolen, Vincent
- Vasquez, Pedro
- Verhart, John
- Vetter, Henry Xavier
- Villa Gomez, Gillmero Nemoria
- Villaroya, Ernesto Corral
- Vita, William S.
- Vorisek, Rudolph T.
- Wadeson, John H.
- Walsh, James Joseph
- Warren, A. Thomas
- Weber, Francis J.
- Weitz, Wilfred
- Wempe, Michael Edwin
- Wertz, Gerald
- Wishard, John W.
- Wolfe, Philip Mark
- Ziemann (BP), G. Patrick
If you or a loved one has experienced abuse, assault, or misconduct as a result of a clergy member or priest at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, you may be eligible to recover compensation. Our Los Angeles clergy abuse attorneys can help you better understand your legal options.
Accused Priests From The Diocese of San Francisco (35)
- Armstrong, Peter Gomez
- Aylward, James W.
- Baquedano-Pech, Theodore
- Billante, Salvatore
- Bravo, Roberto
- Carter, Daniel E.
- Cloutier, Edmond G.
- Cunha, Arthur Manuel
- Dabbene, Bernard
- Danielson, Harold
- Durkin, Charles
- Ellis, Hal
- Heaney, John P.
- Ingels, Gregory G.
- Keegan, Austin Peter
- Keohane, Daniel T.
- Leach, Jerome
- Lewis, Epiphanius
- McCrillis, Philip E.
- Moriarty, John
- Murnig, Guy Anthony
- Myers, William S.
- O’Connor, John J.
- O’Shea, Patrick J.
- Pacheco, Dan (Danilo)
- Presenti, Richard P.
- Riley, Miles O’Brien
- Schipper, Carl Anthony
- Stanislaus, Wellington Joseph “Brother Stan”
- Superiaso, Jose
- Trainor, Henry J.
- Tubbs, Leo Donald
- Van Handel, Robert M.
- Walsh, Milton T.
- Yost, Peter
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Fresno (14)
- Bradley, John
- Brown (Bp), Tod D.
- Ceniza, Hermy Dave O.
- Collins (in Fresno), James
- Diaz, Raul
- Esquivel, John
- Flores, Miguel
- Gabriel, Benjamin
- Gamel, Robert
- Garcia, Louis Aloysius
- Harrison, Craig
- Herdegen, Anthony G.
- O’Connell, Vincent A.
- Swearingen, Eric
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Monterey (30)
- Abinate, Phillip
- Battagliola, Alberto (Orlando)
- Campbell, Stuart Bede
- Chavira, Marcos Capistran
- Condon, Thomas
- Cortes, Antonio
- Crews, Edward
- Daly, Patrick
- Dwyer, Vincent
- Esquivel, Juan Carlos
- Faria, Carl
- Fitz-Henry, Edward
- Garcia, Luis
- Haskins, Edward T.
- Jimenez, Manuel
- Kareta, Gregory
- McCarthy, Scott
- McDonald, Michael
- Mengon, Albert (Alberto)
- Meyer, Gilbert
- Migliazzo, Felix
- Moore, Charles L.
- Neary, Thomas
- O’Connor, Colman
- Pacheco, Joseph
- Pierson, John
- Sheehan, Joseph
- Valdez, Paul R.
- Velez, John
- Wisecaver, James
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Oakland (44)
- Acebo, Jeffrey N.
- Binh-Minh, Thomas Duong
- Breen, Vincent Ignatius
- Broderson, Donald Eugene
- Cabral, Kenneth J.
- Castillo, Alexander Q.
- Clark, James A.
- Colloty, Phillip
- Cooper, Hilary
- Coutts, Virendra
- Crespin, George E.
- Custodio, Sidney J.
- Donovan, Pearse P.
- Duffy, Dennis
- Eagleson, Donald W.
- Ferreira, Joseph A.
- Finnegan, Patrick
- Francis, George J.
- Freitas, Robert E.
- Furman, Adrian
- Green, William S.
- Gutierrez-Cervantes, Joseph (Jesse)
- Kiesle, Stephen M.
- LaGasse, Ronald J.
- Lanuevo, Tarcisio D.
- Leehan, Cornelius P.
- Luiz, Gary M.
- McKinnon, Bede
- McLeod, Daniel
- Mendoza Vela, Hector David
- Moreno, Joaquin
- O’Brien, Lawrence
- Odom-Green, William
- Ponciroli, Robert F.
- Prindeville, James E.
- Ribeiro, Arthur A. (Arturo)
- Slane, Anthony
- Tollner, Gary B.
- Varela, Ramon
- Vas, John
- Verngren, Francis
- Whelan, Stephen (Steve)
- Wilcox, Gordon
- Wong, Terrence
- Andersen, Andrew Christian
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Orange (26)
- Aranda, Sofronio A. (Pon)
- Atherton, Gregory
- Baird, Lawrence J.
- Buckman, Franklin
- Casimano (Casamino), Santino
- Coffield, John V.
- Delahunty, Richard
- Falvey, Sinon F.
- Foley, Robert
- Harris, Michael A.
- Horvath, Bertrand W.
- Jimenez, Edgardo Arrunataegui
- Knoernschild, John
- Lenihan, John Peter
- Lord, John “Jack” W.
- Manville, Alexander
- Mohan, Thomas Joseph
- Nguyen, Dominic
- Pillon, Gordon John
- Ramaekers, Timothy
- Ramirez, Luis Eduardo
- Ruhl, John (Jon) E.
- Salazar, Cesar
- Sheahan, John A.
- Tanilong, Gerardo Jarencio
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Sacramento (48)
- Allender, Thomas G.
- Arroyo, Alejandro
- Beltran Rico, Gerardo
- Blanco, Mario
- Boyle, Edward
- Brady, Vincent
- Casey, James
- Casper, Robert
- Coffey, Andrew
- Conway, Malachy
- Coria Gonzales, Hector
- Cortes, Pablo
- Crowley, John
- Delgado, Rodolfo
- Dermody, Thomas
- Dowling, John
- Falvey, Arthur A.
- Feeser, William
- Figueroa, Oscar
- Foley, J. Patrick
- Garcia, Francisco Javier
- Hannan, John
- Henson, Jerome M.
- Hernandez Cota, David
- Hernandez-Tovar, Francisco
- Hold, William B.
- Lynch, Michael
- Magallanes, Jesus
- Marsicek, Robert (Bob)
- Mennis, James
- Mistretta, Vito
- Mistretta, Vito
- Monaghan, James Thomas
- Moreno, Jorge
- O’Connor, Cornelius F.
- Ojeda, Uriel
- Perez, Z. Enrique
- Petrich, Vernon
- Pinal Costellanos, Jose Antonio
- Porras, Mario Blanco
- Prouix, Michael
- Storan, William
- Twomey, Simon
- Urbina, Jose Luis
- Wallace, Murrough
- Walsh, Michael
- Walsh (California), Michael
- Watts, John “Casper”
Accused Priests From The Diocese of San Bernardino (85)
- Ayala, Saul
- Ball, Edward Lawrence
- Barco, Roberto
- Bell, Joseph
- Benson, Gustavo
- Bucaro, Michael
- Castillo, Alejandro Jose /Alex
- Covas, Peter
- da Silva, Owen
- De Dominicis, Daniel
- Dominguez, Jesus
- Donat, Robert J.
- Dunne, Kevin
- Etienne, Clifton Raymond
- Fertal, Joseph (Joe)
- Garduno, Anthony Martinez
- Gil, Rudi
- Gomez Macouzet, Maximiliano
- Hayes, J. Ernest/Ernest J.
- Jablonski, Joseph
- Jost, Dennis Raymond
- Keppel, Timothy F.
- Kurilec, Robert
- Luque, Peter H.
- McCormick, Peter
- Melzer, Howard
- Nguyen, Paul
- Nunez, Joseph R.
- Perreault, Louis G.
- Trujillo, Esteban
- Waltos, Bernard
- Beatty, John
- Booth, James T.
- Bridgette, Sister
- Buchanan, Robert
- Carrillo, Arthur
- Chavarin, Jose
- D’Amora, Edito
- Daly, John Joseph
- Damasco, Nelson
- De Francisco, Luis Eugene
- Doxie, Donald F.
- Eagen, I. Brent
- Flynn, Herman Francis
- French, Michael
- Galindo, Rudolph
- Ganahl, James A.
- Gill, Paul
- Higgins, Michael
- Holtey, Gary Michael
- Houck, Richard L.
- Hughes, Patrick J.
- Keith, John Charles
- Koerner, Robert S.
- Kowalczyk, Adalbert (Albert) J.
- Kraft, William Armstrong
- Kurlandski, Lawrence
- Lally, George
- Langille, Justin
- Marron, Peter Joseph
- Marron, Michael Victor
- McGinn, Malachy M.
- McNamara, Patrick Carl
- Medaer, Mark/Marc A.
- Mejia, Ricardo
- Moloney, Thomas
- Montagna, Paolino
- Nikliborc, Robert Daniel.
- O’Keeffe, Patrick J.
- Omemaga, Emmanuel O.
- Polizzi, Daniel
- Reveles, Nicholas
- Robier, Franz
- Rodrigue, Edward Anthony
- Roll, David
- Rossell, Joseph (Jose)
- Savord, William R.
- Sheehy, Edward Augustine
- Sheridan, Gregory Sierra
- Spain, William D.
- Thomas, (unknown)
- Thompson, Matthew J.
- Uboldi, Victor
- Valverde, William
- Vinyard, Barry
Accused Priests From The Diocese of San Jose (19)
- Bettencourt, Thomas
- Burke, Edward Thomas
- Connor, Charles Leonard
- Dondero, Joseph
- Farrington, William C.
- Flickinger, Don D.
- Gray, Robert A.
- Harrison, Arthur
- Largente, Laurent
- Larkin, Alexander C.
- Mariano, Angel Crisostomo
- Moniz, John Rodrigues
- Moss, George
- Noia, Leonel C.
- Pritchard, Joseph T.
- Senevirante, Noel
- Sunseri, Phil
- Toro, Hernan
- Van der Putten, Benedict
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Santa Rosa (21)
- Bolger, Anthony
- Brenkle, John J.
- Crews, John S.
- Gleeson, Patrick
- Hannon, Patrick A.
- Kelly, Michael Emmet
- Kimball, Donald Wren
- McCabe, Patrick Joseph
- Meenan, John A.
- Neville, Francis E.
- O’Neill, Vincent
- Ochoa, Francisco Xavier
- Oswald, Ted
- Pallathuparambil, Xavier
- Rogers, John K.
- Sheehy, Wilfred L.
- Sobalvarro, Alfredo
- Timmons, Gary
- Walsh, James
- Ward, Bernard (Bernie)
- Wiecek, Ron
Accused Priests From The Diocese of Stockton (13)
- Arakal, Francis
- Camacho, Antonio
- Clavell, Didacus (Didachus)
- Fahy, Murty M.
- Guarin-Sosa, Julio Cesar
- Kelly, Michael E.
- Mascardo, Editho
- Munoz, Antonio
- O’Grady, Oliver Francis
- Pelaez, Oscar (Oskar)
- Perez Torrez, Eduardo
- Suarez, Leo
- Villalobos, Ferdinand (Fernando)
Notable California Priest Abuse Settlements
Several California dioceses have reached large financial settlements to resolve past abuse claims. For example, in October 2024 the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to a $880 million global settlement covering 1,353 abuse claims. This landmark agreement represents the largest clergy-abuse payout in U.S. history and brings the Archdiocese’s total payouts to over $1.5 billion. In late 2024 the Diocese of Orange settled a lawsuit for $3.5 million involving abuse by a former school administrator (Msgr. Michael Harris) at Mater Dei High School. Other dioceses have also funded survivor trusts as part of bankruptcy plans:
1. Archdiocese of Los Angeles – $880 Million (2024)
The Los Angeles Archdiocese announced a $880 million agreement in October 2024 to settle 1,353 lawsuits from people who say they were abused by priests over several decades. The deal, reached after extensive mediation, covers claims dating back to the 1940s. The Archdiocese had previously paid about $740 million in earlier settlements, so this latest payment brings the total to more than $1.5 billion. Archbishop José Gomez called it a step toward justice and healing.
2. Diocese of Stockton – $15 Million Trust (2018)
The Diocese of Stockton reorganized its finances under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 after facing many abuse claims. As part of the court-approved plan, the Stockton Diocese created a survivors’ trust funded with $15 million to compensate victims of clergy abuse. (This followed a decision to file bankruptcy in 2014 after prior settlements.) The trust provides cash and other support (like counseling) for approved claimants, while allowing the Diocese to emerge from bankruptcy and continue operations.
3. Diocese of Orange – $3.5 Million (2024)
In December 2024 the Orange Diocese announced a $3.5 million settlement of a 2019 lawsuit filed by a man who said he was abused in the late 1970s by Msgr. Michael Harris (then a lay official at Mater Dei High School). The plaintiff’s attorneys noted this latest payment brings the total Catholic Church payouts involving Harris’s abuse to at least $10 million. The Diocese stated it settled to avoid the risks of trial, while continuing to deny the allegations.
Active California Priest Abuse Lawsuits
1. California Attorney General Investigation (2024)
California’s Attorney General is conducting an ongoing statewide investigation into clergy sexual abuse. The office publicly encouraged survivors to report abuse by priests to the AG’s clergy abuse hotline. This investigation follows the flood of new lawsuits and aims to determine whether church leaders broke civil or criminal laws in handling abuse allegations.
2. Father Larry Young (Diocese of Oakland)
Father Larry Young, pastor of St. Patrick’s in Rodeo (Oakland Diocese), is accused of abusing a 12-year-old altar server in the mid-1980s at St. Raymond’s Church in Dublin. A lawsuit filed in September 2022 alleges Young “molested and fondled” the child in 1984–87. Young denies the claims. His attorneys have fought to keep his name sealed in the Oakland Diocese’s bankruptcy proceedings, but court filings and news reports have identified him as an accused priest. Young remains in ministry while the civil case proceeds.
3. Father Linh Tien Nguyen (Archdiocese of San Francisco)
Father Linh Tien Nguyen of the San Francisco Archdiocese faces a lawsuit filed in November 2022 alleging he sexually abused a former altar boy at St. Pius Church in Redwood City around 2005–2008. The complaint (filed by plaintiff “M.S.”) claims Nguyen repeatedly molested the boy at the parish and at off-site locations. Nguyen, who later served at St. Bartholomew Church in San Mateo, has denied the allegations. Church records note that Nguyen admitted “inappropriately touching” the boy during counseling in 2008, yet he continued in ministry until the lawsuit brought the abuse to light.
4. Father David Ghiorso (Archdiocese of San Francisco)
Father David Ghiorso, age 75 and former chaplain to juvenile boys, is named in two civil suits alleging abuse at a church-run boys’ home. The suits (filed in 2020 and 2022) claim Ghiorso molested young boys in the 1980s–90s at St. Vincent’s School for Boys in San Rafael and at a summer camp. Ghiorso now ministers at parishes in San Carlos and Redwood City. He has strongly denied all allegations in these lawsuits. The cases are pending, and discovery is underway.
5. Father George Mockel (Diocese of Oakland)
In June 2023 it was revealed that Father George Mockel – pastor of Santa Maria parish in Orinda (East Bay, Oakland Diocese) – is accused in a pending civil suit of abusing a teenage altar boy in the mid-1970s. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 and remains open in Alameda County court. Mockel has categorically denied the accusation in public statements, and the Diocese of Oakland says an internal review found no credible evidence. Mockel remains active in ministry while the legal case proceeds.
Deadline to File a Claim in California
In California, deadlines (known as the statute of limitations) for filing civil sexual abuse claims vary depending on the survivor’s age at the time of abuse and when the harm was discovered.
If the survivor was under 18 at the time of abuse
- File by age 40 (within 22 years after turning 18)
- OR within 5 years of discovering the resulting psychological injury, whichever is later
- If over age 40, a “certificate of merit” from a mental health professional is required to confirm the link between the abuse and psychological harm
Assembly Bill 218 (effective Jan 1, 2020) also reopened a look-back window allowing previously time-barred claims to be filed until December 31, 2022.
If the survivor was 18 or older when abused
- File within 10 years of the last abusive act
- OR within 3 years of discovering psychological harm, whichever is later
California’s AB 2777 further expanded rights by suspending the deadline for adult survivors between Jan 1, 2023 and Dec 31, 2026, specifically for cases involving institutional cover-ups.
Individuals who miss this deadline set by the state of California may be ineligible to file a claim and recover compensation. It’s important to understand your legal options by talking to an experienced sex abuse lawyer such as those at Kayla’s Survivors.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Get Help From The Sex Abuse Lawyers at Kayla’s Survivors
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by a priest or other church member in California, you are not alone and legal help is available. California law provides powerful tools for survivors to file civil claims, even years after the abuse occurred. While the legal process can seem daunting, working with an experienced California clergy abuse attorney can help you understand your rights, navigate complex filing deadlines, and pursue justice. Take the next step by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us about your case online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support.
The sexual abuse attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors have helped recover over $1 billion for survivors nationwide, including clergy abuse claims resolved in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and surrounding areas across the state of California.
