KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Catholic priest has been accused of sexual abuse at a Santa Clarita church after being transferred from Scotland for similar accusations.
Sponsored Articles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles confirmed Monday that Father Joseph Dunne was accused of sexual misconduct of a female minor in January 1993 while he was still at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Newhall.
“Her parents immediately reported the matter to the school, Archdiocese and law enforcement,” said a statement from the Archdiocese.
Dunne was employed by OLPH “without permission from or notification to the Archdiocese” from summer of 1992 until the allegations arose in January 1993, when he was removed from the parish.
“Fr. Dunne was instructed to remain in residence without ministering during the law enforcement investigation. The Archdiocese also reported the incident to law enforcement and cooperated in the investigation,” said the statement.
Law enforcement did not press charges, according to the Archdiocese.
After receiving the allegation in 1993, church officials contacted the Archdiocese of Glasgow and learned that there had been previous allegations of misconduct.
Dunne was expected to return to Glasgow, but Archdiocese files contain no information concerning his departure.
The current whereabouts of Dunne is unknown, according to church officials.
These allegations have been brought to light months after similar sexual abuse accusations of four other priests at OLPH.
See Related: Four Catholic Priests From Santa Clarita Named In Nationwide Abuse Case
Since 2002, the Archdiocese has established strict policies and protocols to ensure that when reports are received, the allegation is reported to law enforcement and the Archdiocese cooperates fully with the investigation.
The accused priest is immediately removed from ministry pending the result of the investigation, according to officials.
In cases where the statute of limitations does not allow for criminal prosecution, retired FBI investigators retained by the Archdiocese investigate the matter and report to the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board, which makes final recommendations.
The Archdiocese has also instituted abuse prevention and reporting programs for adults and minors, which include fingerprinting and background checks for employees and volunteers at parishes and schools, as well as clergy formation programs to prevent abuse, according to officials.
Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
If this was sexual misconduct why wasn’t he prosecuted Harming a child is not a small matter and not arresting this prist is malfeasance at the highest level.
Why now?????
“Law enforcement did not press charges, according to the Archdiocese.” – WHY NOT??
“Dunne was employed by OLPH “without permission from or notification to the Archdiocese” from summer of 1992 until the allegations arose in January 1993, when he was removed from the parish.” – WHY??
“After receiving the allegation in 1993, church officials contacted the Archdiocese of Glasgow and learned that there had been previous allegations of misconduct.” – The church didn’t perform a background check before hiring this minister?
“These allegations have been brought to light months after similar sexual abuse accusations of four other priests at OLPH.” – FOUR?? All the more reason for background checks! Can just anybody apply to be a minister at this parish without accreditation or references?
“The current whereabouts of Dunne is unknown, according to church officials.” – I sincerely hope a BOLO has been issued for this “minister” so other parishes will be spared this type of issue.
The title for this article should include ” … in 1993″. Not including that important fact, means that this is just click bait.
I agree. This is not “news.” This is old news. Of course, sexual abuse of a minor is a serious crime; but this does not occur only in the Catholic Church; it occurs in other churches and organizations as well. It would be best to focus on crimes that are happening NOW rather than in the past.
If it was my child he’d be a dead man walking
Really 1993 and your putting it out there because??? Click bait is right.
This entire article is either written poorly or it’s written about a VERY poorly run church that sounds as if it should be held liable for choosing to employ Fr. Dunne ‘without the permission or notification’ from the archdiocese ..from the summer of 1992 until the allegation was made in 1993”.
A few years later, this same OLPH church, employed a Fr Martini from the valley after he was ‘allegedly’ accused of sexually assaulting a boy for over a year.
The “archdiocese investigated” and found the claim to be ‘un-substantiated’.. yet that same boy filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese and they SETTLED with the boy?
No worries people… Father Dunne is “missing” and the archdiocese doesn’t know where he is.. and Father Martini (whom the church paid to settle a sexual misconduct claim) is now employed at St. Joseph’s in Carpinteria so the folks in Santa Clarita don’t have to worry about either of these predators now.. they are now someone else’s problem.
What is wrong with this OLPH and the Archdiocese that they protect these men? What is wrong with this congregation that they continue to trust that OLPH will to right by their people?
I can only hope that this article was written “entirely wrong” .. because the only alternative to that is OLPH and the Archdiocese are deceitful and evil.
Wait… CLICK BAIT? Are you serious?
Regardless of WHEN this happened… what this article clearly informs the readers of is that since 1964, OLPH has hired 6 accused sexual predators. Some served time, the church ‘settled’ on behalf of others … they ‘lost track’ of one and one they simply moved to Carpinteria so he could sexually assault parishioners there and OLPH wouldn’t have to deal with him any more.
This article is a follow up to a previously run article that shows the link, history and connection of OLPH to multiple sexual predators over the years.
Click bait. I suppose you are ok with exposing your family to murders, rapists, etc.. as long as it was done as far back as 1993).
(PS… the last time OLPH sent off one of their predator priests was 2014. Is that any bettter so as to not claim CLICK BAIT for running this article?)
So we are all in agreement. Female priests.