John H. Dawson
Ordained: 1967
John H. Dawson has been accused of abusing at least ten minors in the 1970s and 1980s — some as young as 8 years old. Despite reports made in the 1980s and 1990s, the Archdiocese never reported his abuse to the police. Instead, the Archdiocese paid for treatment for Dawson for years.
In 1987, the Archdiocese received an anonymous allegation of childhood sexual molestation from La Mirada. In 1992, an adult male reported to Vicar for Clergy that in 1976 when he was 12 years old, he was molested by Dawson. In 1993, another adult male reported that when he was 14 years old, he was molested by Dawson. He reported that he suspects that his brother was also molested and that there were three other victims. After these allegations, Dawson was placed on sick leave. In 1996, yet another adult male reported that when he was in the third or fourth grade (early 1970’s) at the parish school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Santa Barbara, he was sexually abused by Dawson.
Father Dawson's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church | La Mirada, California | 1968..1969 |
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church | Santa Barbara, California | 1970..1973 |
| Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church | Long Beach, California | 1975..1978 |
| St. Bernadette Catholic Church | Los Angeles, California | 1979..1982 |
| St. James the Less Catholic Church | La Crescenta, California | 1983..1984 |
| St. Sebastian Catholic Church | Los Angeles, California | 1985..1993 |
| Absent on Sick Leave | 1994.1999 |
