Father Jose Mendez
Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Augustinian)
Ordained: 1983
Retired: 1994
Assignment History:
- 1984: Unknown
- 1985: Casa Morena (Santa Ana, CA)
- 1986-1887: San Miguel (Los Angeles, CA)
- 1988-1990: Cristo Rey (Los Angeles, CA)
- 1991-1993: St. Augustine Priory (Oxnard, CA)
- 1994: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Santa Ana, CA)
- 1995-Present: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Jose Mendez:
Fr. Jose Mendez, a member of the Augustinian Recollects, was ordained a priest in 1983, who served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, he was publicly named in a civil lawsuit alleging child sexual abuse of a minor from 1985 to 1987, while serving at San Miguel in Los Angeles, CA.
A report from his superiors recommended that Fr. Mendez be dismissed from the order and stated that Fr. Mendez “probably should never have been professed a religious or ordained a priest.” He left the Diocese of Orange in 1994.
Fr. Mendez admitted to fathering at least one child and was threatened with a separate paternity suit. His status as a priest, current whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown. Fr. Mendez was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ 2004 list of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
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.