If you have been sexually abused by a Catholic priest – or anyone else working in the Diocese of Fresno – you may have an opportunity to seek justice and financial compensation. On July 2, 2025, the Diocese of Fresno filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the more than 150 sexual abuse claims it received. A claims process for all survivors will not begin in the bankruptcy case. Strict claims deadlines will apply so you must act soon. Horowitz Law is now evaluating legal claims for anyone sexually abused by anyone associated with the Diocese of Fresno. Contact us today at 954-641-2100 or reach out online to learn more.
Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese has stated that bankruptcy is the "only path that will allow us to handle claims of sexual abuse with compassion that is fair and equitable while simultaneously ensuring the continuation of the ministry within our diocese." The Diocese's bankruptcy court filing list the diocese’s assets as between $50 million and $100 million, with between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors.
In California alone, seven Catholic dioceses have filed for bankruptcy: Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, San Diego, and Stockton. Six of these bankruptcies came after California passed the Child Victim Act in 2022, which allowed abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits regardless of many year ago the abuse occurred.
Contact us today to determine your legal options against the Diocese of Fresno and anyone else who has hurt you.
Through our own investigation, our team has identified 42 clergy in the Diocese of Fresno who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors.
Truth is power. Through our own efforts, our lawyers have compiled what we believe is the most comprehensive list of priests and brothers accused of sexual abuse of minors who have worked in the Diocese of Fresno, and the list is expected to grow as more survivors come forward to speak their truth. So far, we have identified a staggering 42 clergy who worked in the Diocese of Fresno who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. In many cases, the men listed below were merely transferred from parish to parish after allegations arose, and left a long trail of victims across the Diocese of Fresno.
The men we have identified are:
- Fr. William Allison
- Fr. Gaspar Bautista
- Fr. Brian D. Bjorklund
- Fr. John “Jack” Bradley (Jesuit)
- Bishop Tod Brown
- Br. Samuel Cabot (Franciscan Friar)
- Fr. James Cairns (Vincentian)
- Br. Felix Calonge (Franciscan Friar)
- Fr. Stuart Campbell (Dominican)
- Fr. David (Laurian) Carrier (Franciscan)
- Fr. Hermy Dave Ceniza
- Br. Gerald Chumik (Franciscan Friar)
- Br. Mario Cimmarusti (Franciscan Friar)
- Fr. Basil Peter Congro
- Fr. Daniel DeDominicis (Holy Spirit Fathers)
- Fr. Raul Diaz
- Br. Dennis Duffy (Franciscan Friar)
- Fr. Ted Feely (Franciscan)
- Fr. Don Flickinger
- Fr. Miguel Flores
- Fr. Benjamin Gabriel
- Fr. Robert Gamel
- Fr. Louis Aloysius Garcia
- Msgr. Craig Francis Harrison
- Fr. Gerald Hartz
- Msgr. Anthony Herdegen
- Fr. Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez
- Br. David Johnson (Franciscan Friar)
- Fr. Stephen Kain (Franciscan)
- Fr. Greg Kareta (Franciscan)
- Fr. David LaPierre (Franciscan)
- Fr. Cornelius P. Leehan (Redemptorist)
- Fr. Mark Liening (Franciscan)
- Br. Jorge Ortiz Lopez (Franciscan Friar)
- Cardinal Roger Mahony
- Fr. Michael McDonald
- Fr. Vincent O’Connell (Marist)
- Msgr. Joseph Pacheco
- Fr. John Shepherd (Jesuit)
- Fr. Anthony Slane (Redemptorist)
- Fr. Eric Swearingen
- Br. Ramon Varela (Franciscan Friar)
Horowitz Law represents victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Fresno 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 Fresno now have legal options, 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 to discuss your options today.