Father James Ganahl
Diocese of San Bernardino
Ordained: 1956
Died: 2010
Assigned as follows:
- 1956-1958: St. Vincent de Paul (San Diego, CA)
- 1958-1959: St. Charles Borromeo (San Diego, CA)
- 1958-1964: San Diego College for Men (San Diego, CA)
- 1964-1967: Immaculate Heart Seminary (San Diego, CA)
- 1967-1973: San Gorgonio (Beaumont, CA)
- 1973-1981: St. Joan of Arc (Victorville, CA)
- 1981-1987: St. Catherine’s (Temecula, CA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father James Ganahl:
Fr. James Ganahl served in a number of parishes in San Diego and San Bernardino counties. According to media reports, Ganahl was accused of abusing four sisters from 1961 to 1963 in San Bernardino. The sisters allege that he fondled them, kissed them inappropriately, and sexually touched them for a period of two years when they lived in Mission Hills. In 1999, they told the Diocese of San Bernardino. The Diocese of San Diego reported the incident to police in 2002, but the family chose not to pursue criminal charges then. A financial settlement was ultimately reached.
Ganahl has been named in at least one civil lawsuit. He retired in 1987 and was removed from ministry in November 1998.
In March 2007, his name was included in the Diocese of San Diego’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. In October 2010, as part of a settlement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese of San Diego released his personnel file.
Ganahl died in February 2010.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in San Bernardino, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.