Fr. Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez – Diocese of Fresno

On Behalf of | Aug 3, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez

Diocese of Fresno

Ordained: 1983

Removed: N/A

Assigned as follows:

  • 1984-1987:      Unknown
  • 1988-1989:      St. Mary’s (Fullerton, CA)
  • 1990-1991:      St. Anthony Claret (Anaheim, CA)
  • 1992-1997:      Unknown
  • 1998:                St. John Cathedral (Fresno, CA)
  • 1999:                St. Joseph Church (Los Banos, CA)
  • 2000:                St. Elizabeth Church (McFarland, CA)
  • 2001:                Sacred Heart Church (Planada, CA)
  • 2002-2004:      St. Paul Church (Tranquility, CA)

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez:

Father Edgardo Arrunataegui Jimenez was ordained in Peru in 1984. He began working in the Diocese of Orange shortly after in 1987. He abruptly left to perform “missionary work” in Peru in the early 1990s. It is believed he returned to California in 1998, to work in the Diocese of Fresno. After six years in the Diocese of Fresno, Father Jimenez left the country in 2002. 

According to media reports, Diocesan officials told parishioners back then that Jimenez had left on a missionary assignment, but they revealed the truth at a press release in January of 2004, that all Orange County priests removed from ministry after “credible allegations” of child sexual abuse were said to have gone on “missionary assignments.” A spokesman for the Diocese of Orange said the allegations were “dealt with years ago” but didn’t tell police until 2004 as part of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice study into the Catholic Church pedophile priest scandal. At this time, Father Jimenez was working at a parish in Madrid, Spain, but was still listed as part of Diocese of Chimbote in Peru. 

In December 2017, an investigative news team found Father Jimenez working as a hospital chaplain for the diocese in Chimbote, Peru.

Their report revealed that Father Jimenez had bounced around the world after Orange County by using different iterations of his full name. Horacio Jimenez in one country, Edgardo Arrunategui in another, and so on.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing 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 due to a temporary change in California 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.