Father Franklin Buckman
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Ordained: 1963
Removed: 2002
Assignment History:
- 1964-1967: St. Barbara’s (Santa Ana, CA)
- 1968-1972: Our Lady of the Valley (Canoga Park, CA)
- 1973-1976: St. Athanasius (Long Beach, CA)
- 1977-1984: St. Polycarp (Stanton, CA)
- 1985-2002: On Duty Outside of Diocese
- 1987-1989: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Chiloquin, OR)
- 1990-2002: St. Pius Xth (Klamath Falls, OR)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Franklin Buckman:
Fr. Franklin Buckman was ordained a priest in 1963, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles. He resigned from ministry, citing the burden of administration of such a large parish and hoped to continue ministry at a smaller parish.
It was later revealed the true reason for his departure was due to being accused of sexual abuse by three boys between 1962 and 1981. He was then transferred to the Diocese of Baker in Oregon in 1985.
According to media reports, in February 1989, a California woman accused him of molesting her 8-year old son while he was still an Orange County priest. The mother’s doctor wrote a letter to church officials in 1990, stating that the doctor revealed that the woman confronted her son’s abuser in 1979, and he confessed to the molestation. The letter says the woman then went to the bishop about the matter but “was told not to discuss it and stop bothering the diocese authorities.”
Fr. Buckman retired and was removed from ministry in 2002. He was included in a press release issued by the Diocese of Orange in 2004 as a priest accused and removed from ministry. A lawsuit filed against him in 2005, revealed that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was aware of complaints against Father Buckman as early as 1979. The lawsuit was settled for $1.9 million. Father Buckman’s name was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. He is believed to be living a “life of prayer and penance” in Oregon.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles 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 Archdiocese of Los Angeles now have legal options due to a voluntary compensation fund created by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 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 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.