Robert Foley
Ordained:
In 1985, a lawsuit was filed alleging that Father Robert Foley sexually abused a boy on a St. Justin Martyr church camping trip in 1983. The boy’s mother first approached the church itself to request that it provide counseling for the boy and remove Foley from the priesthood. Although the family received counseling assistance, Foley was not removed, so the family proceeded with the civil lawsuit. Foley was transferred to a church in England in 1985, and the Church settled the lawsuit in 1988. In 2002 it was reported that the Diocese of Orange requested and arranged for Foley’s transfer overseas in order to avoid arrest in case the mother reported his crime to the police. According to a list of priests credibly accused of sexual abuse released by the Diocese of Orange in 2016, Foley has been removed from ministry and remains on voluntary permanent leave.
Father Foley's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| St. John Neumann | Irvine, CA | 1980..1981 |
| St. Justin Martyr | Anaheim, CA | 1982..1983 |
| St. Hedwig | Los Alamitos, CA | 1984..1985 |
Articles about Father Foley
- Los Angeles Times - Lawsuit against Diocese Allowed for Boy Who Says Priest Molested Him (10/10/1987)
- The Orange County Register - Church Agrees to Pay in Molestation Suit (16/08/1988)
- Orange County Weekly - Hide the Buggering Priests! (09/07/2004)
- OC Weekly - Accused Priests of the Orange Diocese (04/03/2005)
- Orange County Register - Million-Dollar Settlements (17/05/2005)
