Msgr. James Booth – Diocese of San Diego

| Aug 26, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Monsignor James Booth

Diocese of San Diego

Ordained: 1946

Died: 2012

Assigned as follows:

  • 1947:                St. Joseph’s Cathedral (San Diego, CA)
  • 1948:                Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Descanso, CA)
  • 1949:                Our Lady of Angels (San Diego, CA)
  • 1949:                Young Men’s Institute (San Diego, CA)
  • 1949-1952:      North American College (Rome, Italy)
  • 1953:                Patton State Hospital (Patton, CA)
  • 1954:                College of Liberal Arts (San Diego, CA)
  • 1954-1960:      Graduate School of Law (San Diego, CA)
  • 1954-1969:      Nazareth House Orphanage (San Diego, CA)
  • 1954-1970:      Mission San Diego De Alcala (San Diego, CA)
  • 1955-1967:      Diocesan Consultors (San Diego, CA)
  • 1965-1968:      Administrative Council (San Diego, CA)
  • 1965-1969:      Indian Missions Commission
  • 1970:                Building Committee

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Monsignor James Booth:

Monsignor James Booth was ordained a priest in 1946, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of San Diego. According to media reports, in February 2003, a woman filed a lawsuit against , alleging he sexually abused her when she was 15 years old between 1965 and 1967. At the time, Monsignor Booth worked at Mission San Diego de Alcala. A second woman filed suit in December 2003, alleging that he molested her between 1959 and 1960 at San Anthony’s parish. The victim was 13 at the time of the abuse. He denied any wrongdoing.

After twenty-five years as a priest, Monsignor Booth left the priesthood in 1971, to marry a 19-year-old San Diego State University student. Later, he became an Episcopal priest and worked throughout Central Valley, California until he retired in 1983. In March 2007, his name was included in the Diocese of San Diego’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. In October 2010, his personnel file was released and he was also cited for abuse in the 1940s, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio. He died in January 2012.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Diego 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 San Diego now have legal options due to a temporary change in the 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.