Father Saul Ayala
Diocese of San Bernardino
Ordained: 1971
Removed: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- 1982-1984: St. Edward Church (Corona, CA)
- 1984-1986: St. Joseph Church (Barstow, CA)
- 1986-1989: Our Lady of Guadalupe (San Bernardino, CA)
- 1986-1989: Holy Family (Hesperia, CA)
- 1989-1990: St. Joseph Church (Fontana, CA)
- 1991-1998: Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine Church (Mecca, CA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Saul Ayala:
Fr. Saul Ayala worked in the San Bernardino area for thirty years. According to media reports, in June 2002, a woman accused him of “sexual harassment and misconduct involving a minor”. He was placed on administrative leave, and shortly after, he moved to Mexico. Ayala was permanently banned from ministry.
According to media reports, three months after the first accusation, in September, two sisters filed a lawsuit alleging Ayala had sexually abused them as children from 1988 to 1989. They were ages 7 and 9 when he babysat them at their home while their mother worked. At the time, their mother had allegedly reported the incidents to the Church in Hesperia, but no action was taken.
The sisters’ case had more credibility than other lawsuits because the women did not come forward until law enforcement approached them. At the time of the alleged abuse, Ayala was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Bernardino, California, and was also performing services at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Hesperia. In 2004, the Diocese of San Bernardino settled with them for $30,000.
In October 2018, the Diocese of San Bernardino listed Ayala as a priest with allegations of child sexual abuse “for which settlements were paid, but credibility not verified”. Neither Ayala nor the Diocese of San Bernardino admitted wrongdoing in the settlement.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in San Bernardino, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.