Saul Ayala
Ordained: 1971
In June of 2002, Fr. Saul Ayala was put on administrative leave following allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct involving a minor. He had been serving as pastor at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mecca, CA. Later that same year, two adult sisters filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Ayala molested them in 1988 and 1989 when the girls were 7 and 9 years old. At that time, Ayala was serving as the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Bernardino, CA. Ayala was regularly babysitting the girls at their home when he allegedly molested them. The Diocese of San Bernardino reached a settlement with the two women in April of 2004. On a list of priests credibly accused of sexual misconduct released by the Diocese of San Bernardino in October of 2018, Ayala is listed as a priest who had faced “allegations for which settlements were paid, but credibility not verified.” Ayala moved to Mexico and is now considered retired without faculties.
Father Ayala's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Does not appear in Catholic directories | 1972..1982 | |
| St. Edward's | Corona, CA | 1982..1984 |
| St. Joseph's | Barstow, CA | 1984..1986 |
| Our Lady of the Desert | Baker, CA | 1984..1986 |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe | San Bernardino, CA | 1986..1989 |
| Holy Family | Hesperia, CA | 1986..1989 |
| St. Joseph's | Fontana, CA | 1989..1990 |
| Does not appear in Catholic directories for 1991 | 1990..1991 | |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine | Mecca, CA | 1991..1998 |
| Does not appear in Catholic directories for 1999..2002 | 1998..2002 | |
| Administrative leave in Mecca, CA, eventually moving to Mexico | Mecca, CA | 2002..2003 |
