Father Reuben Abaya
Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Extern)
Ordained: 1977
Assignment History:
- 1977-1978: Our Lady Help of Christians (East Orange, NJ)
- 1978-1980: Holy Cross (Rumson, NJ)
- 1978-1980: Holy Rosary (Rumson, NJ)
- 1980: St. Philomena (Carson, CA)
- 1980-1983: St. Mary’s (Perth Amboy, NJ)
- 1983-2018: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Reuben Abaya:
Fr. Ruben Abaya was ordained a priest in 1977, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles. He was a priest from the Philippines that was granted faculties to work in California for 11 days in 1980. According to media reports, Fr. Abaya was accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl in 1980 while serving at St. Philomena in Carson, CA. He was one of seven priests that abused the victim.
The girl was first seduced by Father Santiago (Henry) Tamayo, then by Father Abaya and five other Filipino priests. The girl became pregnant by one of the other priests (not Father Abaya). The priests secretly sent her to the Philippines, where she endured a difficult pregnancy and nearly died giving birth.
In 1984, a lawsuit was filed. With support from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, all the priests fled the country and returned to the Philippines. The suit was dropped soon after. In 1991, Father Tamayo, the priest who first raped the girl, publicly apologized to the victim in a news conference, for his crimes and for involving the other priests in her abuse.
In 2007, the case was settled for $500,000, part of a $660-million settlement between the church and hundreds of people alleging abuse by priests. It is believed that Father Ruben Abaya is currently the Spiritual Director at St. Mary’s Seminary in Laoag City, Philippines. Whether he has access to children or is under restrictions is unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles 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 Archdiocese of Los Angeles now have legal options due to a voluntary compensation fund created by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 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.