Father John Sheahan
Diocese of Orange
Ordained: 1960
Died: 2015
Assigned as follows:
- 1961-1965 St. Bridget of Sweden (Van Nuys, CA)
- 1965 St. Monica Church (Santa Monica, CA)
- 1966 St. Justin Martyr (Anaheim, CA)
- 1967-1970 St. Irenaeus (Cypress, CA)
- 1971-1973 Our Lady Queen of Angels (Corona Del Mar, CA)
- 1973-1975 Absent On Sick Leave
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father John Sheahan:
Father John Sheahan was ordained a priest in 1960, who served in the Diocese of Orange. According to media reports, at least four survivors have come forward alleging child sexual abuse by him, between 1961 and 1965. At the time, he served at St. Bridget of Sweden in Van Nuys. Father Sheahan went on medical retirement in January 1976, after he underwent surgery for a brain tumor. He was excardinated into the Diocese of Orange later that year in June.
In April 2002, the Vicar for Clergy received a call from the Chaplain at California Men’s Colony West who had spoken to an inmate who claimed to have been abused by Father Sheahan at St. Bridgets in the early 1960s. In December 2003 he was named in a civil lawsuit, in which his name was spelled Sheehan.
Father Sheahan lived in Los Alamitos, California prior to his death in 2015. He was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Orange 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 Orange 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 at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.