Father Michael Terra
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Ordained: 1978
Removed: 1991
Assigned as follows:
- 1978-1981: San Roque (Santa Barbara, CA)
- 1981-1982: St. Athanasius (Long Beach, CA)
- 1982-1983: St. Rose of Lima (Simi Valley, CA)
- 1983-1986: St. Patrick (North Hollywood, CA)
- 1986-1989: St. Matthew (Long Beach, CA)
- 1989-1991: St. Mary’s Medical Center (Long Beach, CA)
- 1991: Inactive Leave
- 1992-2021: Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Michael Terra:
Father Michael Terra was ordained a priest in 1978, who served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, in 2002, a woman accused the priest in a civil lawsuit of sexually abusing her when she was a 16-year-old girl from approximately 1979 to 1980, while he worked at San Roque in Santa Barbara.
Court documents state “The assaults took place in, among other locations, Fr. Terra’s office in the rectory at San Roque, the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens and at a local beach.” He would tell the girl to attend confession on Saturdays, listen to her sins and then assault her inside the confessional.
In 1991, Father Terra was placed on inactive leave. His name appeared on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. His current whereabouts are unknown.
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