Fr Michael J. Teta – Diocese of Tucson

| Aug 28, 2019 | Catholic Church

Father Michael J. Teta

Diocese of Tucson

Ordained: Unknown

Laicized: 2004

 

Assigned as follows:

  • 1978-1980       Our Mother of Sorrows Parish (Tucson, AZ)
  • 1980-1982       St. Rose of Lima Parish (Safford, AZ)
  • 1986-1988       St. Francis Parish (Superior, AZ)

 

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Michael J. Teta:

According to media reports, Father Michael J. Teta came to Tucson from the Diocese of Trenton in 1978. He became a member of the Diocese of Tucson in 1982. In 1997, a Catholic Church tribunal found Father Teta guilty of molesting two boys, ages 7 and 9, in the confessional as they prepared for their First Communion. It found there to be “almost a satanic quality in Father Teta’s mode of acting toward young men and boys.”

The alleged abuse occurred during his first assignment as associate pastor at Our Mother of Sorrows in Tucson from 1978-1980. Father Teta denied the allegations. The Diocese of Tucson placed him on leave in 1991. He was paid $900 a month from 1991-2004.

He was accused of child abuse in several of the 11 lawsuits filed between 1999 and 2002 which were settled by Tucson Diocese in January 2002.

He was laicized in August 2004, and named in another lawsuit filed the following month in September.

Michael Teta is deceased.  He was never criminally convicted of the allegations against him.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Tucson in Arizona.  If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Arizona, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Tucson now have legal options, 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 Arizona and nationwide. We can help.

Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.