Father Willebaldo Castro
Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Extern)
Ordained: 1953
Suspended: 1969
Assignment History:
- 1956: Mexico
- 1957-1968: Unknown
- 1969: Our Lady of Guadalupe (El Monte, CA)
- 1970-1972: Unknown
- 1973-1975: St. Alphonsus Catholic Church (Los Angeles, CA)
- 1976-1980: St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (Santa Maria, CA)
- 1980: Sacred Heart Church (Pomona, CA)
- 1980: Mexico
- 1981-2018: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Willebaldo Castro:
Fr. Willebaldo Castro was an extern priest from Mexico ordained in 1953, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, he was the subject of four lawsuits pertaining to sexual abuse that occurred at St. Mary’s in Santa Maria and St. Alphonsus in Los Angeles between 1973 and 1978.
Reports claim that in 1969, before joining the Los Angeles Archdiocese, the Bishop of Tlalnepantla, Mexico, wrote a letter informing the Chancellor that Fr. Castro was suspended from the priesthood. Despite that warning, in 1972, Castro was assigned to St. Alphonsus Church in Los Angeles.
In 1975, a report was made that Fr. Castro molested a 16-year-old boy at St. Alphonsus and another report in 1977 of sexual abuse to a young boy at St. Mary’s. According to a civil lawsuit, Castro took advantage of the student’s vulnerability and began introducing sex education into the counseling sessions. Castro then began assaulting that victim on the grounds of the parish. In 1980, Fr. Castro returned to Mexico with the help of the Archdiocese.
His name was included on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ 2004 list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. Since 1980, Fr. Castro’s status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he has access to children 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.
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