Michael A. Harris
Ordained: 1972
A principal at several Catholic high schools throughout the Diocese of Orange, Father Michael Harris abruptly left his position as the principal of Santa Margarita High School in 1994 after it was alleged that he sexually abused a former student. The former student encountered Harris when he was the principal of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA, in the 1980s. A few months after his departure from Santa Margarita, another former student from Mater Dei came forward to accuse Harris of sexual abuse. More survivors came forward and lawsuits continued over the following years. As of 2005, the Diocese of Orange had paid $17.62 million to settle lawsuits regarding abuse allegedly perpetrated by Harris. According to a list released by the Diocese of Orange in 2016, Harris has been laicized through canonical process.
Father Harris's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Polycarp | 1975..1975 | |
| St. Cecilia | Tustin, CA | 1976..1976 |
| Mater Dei High School | Santa Ana, CA | 1977..1986 |
| Santa Margarita High School | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 1987..1994 |
| Inactive Leave | 1995..2001 | |
| Removed | 2002 |
Articles about Father Harris
- Los Angeles Times - Molestation Allegations Dim Star of O.C. Priest (16/10/1994)
- OC Weekly - Accused Priests of the Orange Diocese (04/03/2005)
- Orange County Register - Million-Dollar Settlements (17/05/2005)
- The Orange County Register - Former High-Profile Priest Faces Molestation Charges (06/06/2012)
