Father John Brenkle
Diocese of Santa Rosa
Ordained: 1958
Retired: 2013
Assignment History:
- 1958-1959: (San Mateo, CA)
- 1961-1971: Diocese of Santa Rosa
- 1971-1973: Mission (Northern Zambia)
- 1974-1978: (Eureka, CA)
- 1978-1983: (Calistoga, CA)
- 1983-2013: St. Helena Catholic Church (St. Helena, CA)
Fr. John Brenkle was ordained a priest in 1958, who worked in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Santa Rosa. He served as chairman of the Sexual Misconduct Abuse Review Board. According to media reports, in 2005, he was placed on a short leave of absence after a man reported that the priest had molested his son in 1995 when the boy was in 7th-grade. Fr. Brenkle denied the allegation.
The Diocese of Santa Rosa investigated along with local police and found no wrongdoing. Brenkle was reportedly exonerated and returned to duty and headed the Diocese’s review board on abuse allegations. Abuse victim advocacy groups opposed this decision. Fr. Brenkle said he had a letter from the boy saying that nothing happened.
He retired in 2013.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa now have legal options due to a voluntary compensation fund created by the Diocese of Santa Rosa, 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.