Several priests on diocese’s list had worked in Valley
SAN DIEGO — The Diocese of San Diego has released an updated list of priests for have been accused of sexual abuse since 1950. The list includes several who had been assigned to Valley churches.
The ecclesiastic authority reported credible accusations have been filed in the case of 51 of the priests.
In 2007, as part of bankruptcy proceedings, the diocese released a list of priests allegedly linked to sexual abuse cases.
The list included priests assigned to the diocese as well as those who been visitors within the regional churches. The list also included priests from San Diego and San Bernardino, given that the second dioceses had been part of the first until the two were split in 1978.
The San Diego diocese decided recently to update the list of accused priests owing to concerns raised by parishioners and the public.
The local ecclesiastic authority stressed that none of the priests who appear on the lists are currently serving within the diocese.
In a statement, the diocese said the priests linked to the sexual abuse cases have since left the priesthood on their own and entered secular life, or have been removed from the church.
The ecclesiastic authority urged parishioners who have been sexually abused or know of cases of sexual abuse to contact their local law enforcement agencies.
The diocese also made available a help telephone line for those who have been victimized. Their cases will be referred to independent therapists without charge to them.
The phone number is (858) 490-8353.
“The pain caused by abuse on the part of clerics cannot be forgotten of justified,” the diocese said in its statement. “Keep them in your prayers.”
The following list of accused priests who have served locally was compiled by Adelante Valle editor Arturo Bojórquez. In addition to the names, the church has provided the years that they served, as well as the parishes where they served and the states where they are believed to reside currently.
Matthew thompson
1937-1939
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Calexico Retired in 1975, died in 1976
Joseph rossell
1955-1956
St. Anthony Church, Imperial Died in 1982
Malachy McGinn
1961
St. Mary’s Church, El Centro Died in 1998
Mark Medaer
1961-1962
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
1977-1983
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
Died in 1993
Robert Koerner*
1963-1990
St. Patrick’s Church, Calipatria Died
*Priest from another Diocese or religious community
William Savord
1963-1964
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
1965-1968 Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Niland 1968-1969
St. Joseph’s Church, Holtville Left the priesthood in 1990 and died in 2004
Víctor Uboldi
St. Mary’s Church, El Centro 1964-1965
Retired in 1982 and died in 2001
William Valverde
1965-1966
St. Mary’s Church, El Centro Left the diocese in 1983 and has been in prayer and penitence since 2010
Paul Gill
1966-1967
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
1968-1971
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
Removed in 1998
Anthony Rodríguez
1967-1971
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
1975-1977
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
Retired in 1983, deceased
George Lally
1970-1972
St. Mary’s Church, El Centr Married
Paolino Montagna
1972-1973
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, El Centro
1973-1975
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, El Centro
Left the diocese in 1975, returned to Texas, where he died.
Barry Vinyard
1977-1981
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
1986-1991
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
2001-2002
Juvenile jail in El Centro 2002-2003
Calipatria State Prison Retired with his powers revoked in 2003
Ricardo Mejía
1978
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
Retired in 2006, died in 2016
Frank Sierra
1979-1988
Church of Perpetual Help, Brawley
Retired in 1988, removed in 2002
José Chavarín
1989-1990
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Calexico
Returned to Mexico.