Bishop Tod Brown
Diocese of Fresno
Ordained: 1963
Retired: 2012
Assigned as Follows:
- 1963-1967: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Bakersfield, CA)
- 1963-1967: San Clemente (Bakersfield, CA)
- 1967-1968: St. Francis Xavier (Seaside, CA)
- 1969-1972: St. Jude’s (Marina, CA)
- 1972-1974: Monterey Diocesan Headquarters (Monterey, CA)
- 1974-1977: St. Jude’s (Marina, CA)
- 1977-1988: St. Francis Xavier (Seaside, CA)
- 1969-1988: Diocesan Tribunal (Monterey, CA)
- 1989-1998: Diocese of Boise
- 1998-2012: Diocese of Orange
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Bishop Tod Brown:
Bishop Tod Brown was ordained a priest in 1963, who served in the Diocese of Fresno. He was originally ordained in the Monterey-Fresno Diocese, and shortly after the diocese split in 1967, he became a prominent priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey. He then became the Bishop of Boise in 1988, and then the bishop of Orange, CA in 1998.
According to media reports, in 1997, a letter was given to the bishop of the Fresno diocese and alleged that a man had been molested by Tod Brown in Bakersfield, CA. The victim claimed that the abuse happened when he was just 12-years-old. Brown denied the claim and the Fresno bishop told the victim that he had to be interviewed by a psychologist before they could do a full investigation. The Diocese of Fresno deemed the accusation to be without merit.
In 2004, Bishop Brown released the names of those accused in his diocese and did not include his own name. He later admitted in 2007 that he omitted his own name and there had been an investigation by the church.
Tod Brown was able to retire in 2012, at the age of 75.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Fresno 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 Fresno 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 toll-free at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.