Father Angel Cruces
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Ordained: 1961
Died: 1996
Assignment History:
- 1961-1969: Vigan Minor Seminary (Vigan, Philippines)
- 1970: St. John (Candon, Philippines)
- 1971-1972: St. John College (Candon, Philippines)
- 1973: St. Joseph (Salcedo, Philippines)
- 1974-1975: St. Paul’s Cathedral (Vigan, Philippines)
- 1976-1977: Vigan Minor Seminary (Philippines)
- 1978-1980: St. Philomena Church (Carson, CA)
- 1981: St. Rose of Lima (Maywood, CA)
- 1982-1984: St. Sebastian Church (Santa Paula, CA)
- 1985-1996: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Angel Cruces:
Fr. Angel Cruces was an extern priest from the Philippines ordained in 1961, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, in was working in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles starting in 1978. Fr. Cruces was accused, along with six other priests, of having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl at St. Philomena in Carson, CA. When the girl became pregnant, the priests allegedly conspired to keep her pregnancy a secret and sent her to the Philippines, where she nearly died while giving birth to her child.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles settled claims against Fr. Cruces and the other 6 priests in 2007. According to Fr. Cruces’ priest file, there is a letter the young girl gave to church officials in 1983. Along with the other priests, Fr. Cruces fled to the Philippines to avoid criminal investigation and civil litigation. Cruces died in 1996. He was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. His whereabouts and whether he had access to children from approximately 1985 to his death in 1996 are 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.