Catholic Priest

Gregory Kareta

Ordained: 1956

In 2003, Gregory Kareta was accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy between 1973 and 1974.  During the ensuing criminal proceedings, three other alleged victims came forward to corroborate the charges.  The criminal case was eventually dismissed following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the recent amendment to California’s criminal statute of limitations governing child sexual abuse was unconstitutional.

Kareta had previously admitted to abusing other children in the 1960s while he was on assignment in Wisconsin.  Kareta had reportedly disclosed his history of abuse to the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 1985, but they continued to assign him to parishes and did not restrict his access to children.

Kareta died in 2006 and the church officials subsequently released his personnel file in 2013.

Father Kareta's Assignments

PlacementCity/StateDate(s)
St. Thomas the ApostleDetroit, MI1956..1958
St. Hedwig'sDetroit, MI1958..1963
Our Lady of GuadalupeHermosa Beach, CA1963..1964
St. Josephat'sMilwaukee, WI1964..1965
Bishop Montgomery High SchoolTorrance, CA1965..1971
St. Paul the ApostlePismo Beach, CA1971..1978
Queen of AngelsRiverside, CA1978..1979
St. Joseph'sBarstow, CA1979..1980
Queen of AngelsRiverside, CA1980..1981
Our Lady of GuadalupeRiverside, CA1981..1982
Not listed in Catholic Directories1983..1984
St. Paul the ApostleCoalinga, CA1984..1996
St. Joseph'sAvenal, CA1996..2002
Retired to St. Joseph Cupertino FriaryArroyo Grande, CA2004..onward

Articles about Father Kareta

John A. Bradley
Richard Delahunty