Msgr. Rudy Galindo

Ordained: 1954

Retired: 1986

Assigned as Follows:

1954-1958: St. Edward (Corona, CA)
1958-1968: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Otay, CA)
1968-1974: Our Lady of Guadalupe (San Bernardino, CA)
1974-1976: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (San Ysidro, CA)
1976-1983: St. Joseph Cathedral (San Diego, CA)
1983-1986: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Calexico, CA)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Monsignor Rudy Galindo:

Monsignor Rudy Galindo was ordained a priest in 1954, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of San Diego. According to media reports, in a 1985 civil lawsuit, he was accused of sexually abusing an altar boy at St. Joseph Cathedral. He denied the accusation, but the Archdiocese settled with the boy's family for $75,000. Monsignor Galindo retired the following year in May 1986. He lived in a retirement home in Texas, but has since been transferred to an undisclosed psychiatric facility for evaluation.

In 2002, Monsignor Galindo admitted to sexually abusing three children. They had similar stories of abuse that occurred in the rectory, the office, and Monsignor Galindo's living quarters at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and on trips with the priest. One boy was 8 when the abuse began and the others were 10 or ll. They served as altar boys together when abuse began in 1958 and continued for one of the victims until the early 1970s.

Monsignor Galindo was permanently removed from ministry.

"I am concerned that there are others who may have been harmed by sexual misconduct on the part of Monsignor Galindo during his various assignments," Bishop Robert Brom wrote in a letter distributed to parishioners.

Monsignor Rudy Galindo was named in another six civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse.

One of his alleged victims stated that going to the police and reporting Monsignor Galindo's crimes at the time, simply was not an option for him, nor for many others.

"Back then you didn't do that against the church or a priest, who was seen as next to God," he said. "People don't understand what was going on back then, speaking about sexual abuse was taboo. Today, it's a different era. "I held this in for so many years, I never said anything to anybody."

In March 2007, Monsignor Galindo's name was included in the Diocese of San Diego's list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. In October 2010, as part of a settlement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese of San Diego released his personnel file. His current whereabouts are unknown.

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.

Msgr. Rudy Galindo – Diocese of San Diego