The good news is that a number of the most prolific and problematic San Diego predator priests are dead. The bad news, though, is that they've left in their wake countless deeply wounded and very likely still struggling victims. One of those predator priests is Fr. Gregory Sierra Sheridan, a native of Spain.
Most child molesters gravitate towards a specific gender. Sometimes, an abusive priest who targets girls is caught and is then transferred to an all-boys school, for example, in the naïve hope that maybe his sexual compulsions will be magically cured or at least held in check (because the gender he seems to prefer is less available). History has shown that this approach rarely works, of course.
But Fr. Sheridan seems to be among a smaller group of abusers: the ones who are more indiscriminate and assault both boys and girls in similar numbers.
That means that over the course of his lifetime, he was very likely to have groomed and victimized more children than your average predator priest.
Even a short examination of Fr. Sheridan's work history and alleged crimes is sobering and suggests a wide swath of victims over the years.
- In 2006, a woman reported that Fr. Sheridan abused her as an eight-year-old.
- In 2010, his personnel file was released by church officials.
- In 2019, two more women came forward alleging abuse as girls by Fr. Sheridan at St. Jude's Shrine of the West in Southcrest. That same year, three more women filed an abuse and cover-up lawsuit against the diocese, charging that Fr. Sheridan abused them as young girls.
- In 2020, five men and women reported abuse by Fr. Sheridan, also at St. Jude's Shrine. (One said he was violently raped by the priest between the ages of 11-13)."Ah but keep in mind, these are just allegations," one might say. "Nothing's been proven in a court of law." But please note these two simple, compelling facts:
- In 2007, his name first appeared on a list of accused abusive priests with credible allegations released by the San Diego Diocese. That's a step that church officials take only very carefully and reluctantly and often, only after several allegations from several victims.
- At least one of the lawsuits against Fr. Sheridan has been settled by his church supervisors. That's not a decision that the Catholic hierarchy takes lightly or makes hastily, in part because they know most people consider that an admission of guilt.
Sometimes, when the legal deck is stacked heavily in favor of defendants and against victims, a bishop is able to settle an abuse suit very cheaply. When that happens, bishops almost always publicly announce that they are convinced the accusation is either false or can't be substantiated, the settlement is NOT an admission of guilt and was made simply because the cost of fighting it in court would be more expensive. There's no evidence that any Catholic official - in any of the states where Fr. Sheridan worked - considers him innocent or claims an allegation against him was settled just to save a church entity money. His frequent assignments also suggest that he was likely reported for abuse multiple times.
In California, Fr. Sheridan worked at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Ramona, Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Santa Anna, St. John Bosco parish in East Highlands, St. Joseph's parish in Upland, St. Peter's parish in Fallbrook and St. Jude's parish (a.k.a. St. Jude's shrine) in San Diego. Fr. Sheridan also spent time in Topeka, Kansas (Our Lady of Guadalupe), Omaha, Nebraska (Saint Rose), and in at least three towns in Texas: Pecos (Santa Rosa), Fabens (Our Lady of Guadalupe), and Monahans (Christ the King).
Eventually, throughout his clerical career, Fr. Sheridan rose to the position of 'monsignor.' More than 300 pages of long-hidden church records about Fr. Sheridan are available to read. Finally, you can read more on the San Diego Catholic Diocese and its corrupt clerics - both those who have committed and those who have concealed (and are STILL concealing) child sex crimes.
Horowitz Law represents 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. Contact us at 954-641-2100 or send an email to adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.