Brother Rene Gallant
Diocese of San Jose (Jesuits)
Ordained: N/A
Died: 1975
Assignment History:
- 1924 – 1927: Sacred Heart Novitiate (Los Gatos, CA)
- 1927 – 1928: Bellarmine College Preparatory (San Jose, CA)
- 1928 – 1929: Manresa Hall (Port Townsend, WA)
- 1929 – 1933: St. Paul’s Mission (St. Paul’s, MT)
- 1933 – 1935: Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, WA)
- 1935 – 1940: St. Leo’s Church (Tacoma, WA)
- 1940 – 1975: St. Ignatius Mission (St. Ignatius, MT)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Brother Rene Gallant:
Br. Rene Gallant, known as “Br. Charlie”, served in multiple dioceses including in the Diocese of San Jose. According to media reports, he has been accused of sexually abusing at least 28 people. In 2011, claims against him were included in the Jesuit’s $166M settlement with over 500 plaintiffs. Gallant was named as among the ten most prolific abusers in the settlement.
During the 2011 civil suit against the Ursuline Order and the Diocese of Helena, several plaintiffs alleged abuse by Br. Gallant on the Flathead Indian Reservation when he was assigned to St. Ignatius Mission. The civil suit filed by 45 individuals, was against 4 nuns, 6 priests, and 1 religious brother.
In 2015, Gallant was included on the Diocese of Helena list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse, in compliance with the non-monetary terms of the 2015 bankruptcy settlement.
In 2018, Gallant was also included on the Jesuits West Province list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. It noted multiple allegations of abuse reported in 2009 spanning three decades from the 1940s to the 1970s
Br. Gallant died in 1975.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Jose 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 Jose 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.
Contact us toll-free at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.