Ordained: 1930
Died: 1989
Assigned as Follows:
- 1955-1956: St. Joseph (Upland, CA)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Calexico, CA)
- Precious Blood (Calexico, CA)
- 1956-1959: St. Jude (San Diego, CA)
- 1959-1964: St. Mel’s Catholic Church (Norco, CA)
- 1965-1967: Mercy Hospital (San Diego, CA)
- 1967-1969: St. Mary Magdalen (Jacumba, CA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Simeon “Samuel” Engl:
Father Simeon Engl was ordained a priest in 1930, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of San Diego. His final assignment was as a parish administrator at St. Mary Magdalen in Jacumba in June 1967 until his retirement in July 1969. He died in January 1989 at the age of 85. According to media reports, he was “credibly accused” of molesting several boys in 1950, while he was working in the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin. Although no official allegations have come from his years in California, two inquiries were received by the San Diego diocese after his death.
In January 2019, a spokesperson for the local diocese said that one person claimed his brother had been molested by Father Engl in the 1950’s. Another Wisconsin resident suggested there may have been another case when the priest was in Norco. The allegations came to light after the Green Bay diocese released an updated list of 47 priests who had been the subject of one or more substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The list included Father Engl’s name and that the number of credible allegations made against him were multiple.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Diego in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in one of California’s Catholic dioceses, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of San Diego now have legal options due to a temporary change in the law, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in California and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.