Father Ricardo Chavez
Diocese of Oakland
Ordained: 1963
Retired: 2010
Assignment History:
- 1963-1966: St. Cornelius (Richmond, VA)
- 1967-1979: St. Edward (Newark, CA)
- 1979-1982: Our Lady of the Rosary (Union City)
- 1982-1990: Hispanic Affairs Office of the California Catholic Conference (Sacramento, CA)
- 1990-1997: St. Leander (San Leandro, CA)
- 1997-2010: St. Peter Martyr (Pittsburg, CA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Ricardo Chavez:
Once again, the Diocese of Oakland is involved in a sexual abuse lawsuit, naming two more priests of sexual abuse. A 28-year-old victim who had previously alleged in 2019 that he was raped by a Livermore priest Fr. Michael Van Dinh, now claims he was also sexually abused by Fr. Ricardo Chavez and Fr. Luis Lopez.
According to media reports, the victim had repressed memories he was trying to figure out. When he did, he filed another lawsuit. The victim claims that Chavez abused him when he was a ten-year-old altar boy at St. Peter Martyr Parish in Pittsburg and continued for a decade. The suit claims that Chavez began fondling the victim, then moved underneath his clothing, then underneath his pants, and finally inside his pants.
During an investigation, reports were found stating Chavez had been accused of abusing minors while serving at San Leander Church in San Leandro, California in the 1990s, but the church never investigated the claim. Not only were these allegations against Chavez admittedly never investigated by the Diocese of Oakland in the 1990s, but the Diocese of Oakland to this date has failed to discipline Chavez in any manner whatsoever.
Chavez retired in 2010 but continued to assist within the diocese.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Oakland in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in California, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Oakland now have legal options, 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.