Father Sylvio Lacar
Ordained: Unknown
Assignment History:
- 1980-1983: Saints Peter and Paul (Wilmington, CA)
- 1984: Immaculate Heart of Mary (Los Angeles, CA)
- Archdiocese of Edmonton
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Sylvio Lacar:
Fr. Sylvio Lacar was an extern priest from the Philippines who was granted faculties to work in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, he was one of seven priests accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in 1980, while serving at Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors.
The girl reported abuse by Lacar 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 Lacar). 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. Unitl December 2020, Fr. Lacar was an active priest residing in Canada and working with the Diocese of Edmonton. he had been regularly serving at St. Theresa's Parish in Ma-Me-O Beach and occasionally at St. Theresa's Parish in Mill Woods. The Archdiocese of Edmonton said Lacar was removed from his role after it learned the Archdiocese of Los Angeles identified Lacar as the person whom a "credible accusation of sexual abuse of a minor" was brought forward against in the 1980s.
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 adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.