Fr. John Kenney – Diocese of Orange

| Sep 1, 2019 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father John Kenney

Diocese of Orange

Ordained: Unknown

Died: 1977

Assigned as follows:

  • 1969-1971      St. Andrew (Pasadena, CA)
  • 1972-1975      St. Cecilia (Tustin, CA)
  • 1976                St. Rose of Lima (Maywood, CA)
  • 1977                St. Norbert (Orange, CA)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father John Kenney:

Father John Kenney was ordained a priest who served in the Diocese of Orange. According to media reports, in August 1975, he was assigned to St. Rose of Lima Parish in Maywood and almost immediately began having problems with the parishioners and the pastor. He was transferred to St. Norbert’s in Orange soon after. Less than a year later in May 1977, he requested to be transferred to the Diocese of Baker because he wanted “to have a change of scenery for a year…”

Within three days of Father Kenney sending his letter requesting a transfer, innumerable letters from parishioners at St. Norbert’s asking for the Bishop not to transfer Father Kenney were received. Several letters made reference to complaints that had been made against Father Kenney. Another letter in support of Father Kenney stated that on at least one youth group retreat Father Kenney slept with the kids on the retreat.

After initially rejecting Father Kenney’s request to transfer to the Diocese of Baker, the Diocese of Orange, in June 1977, permitted the transfer. Less than one month later, in July, Father Kenney died in a motorcycle crash in Oregon.

During his time at St. Cecilia’s and St. Norbert’s, Father Kenney was accused of molesting at least three boys. He has been named in multiple civil lawsuits filed in the 1970s, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Baker in Oregon. His name (spelled Kenny) was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Orange 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 Orange now have legal options due to a temporary change in California 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 [email protected] to discuss your options today.