Fr. Robert E. Freitas – Diocese of Oakland

| Dec 7, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Robert E. Freitas

Diocese of Oakland

Ordained: 1972

Removed: 2002

Laicized: 2007

Died: 2011

Assigned as follows:

  • 1972-1976: All Saints (Hayward, CA)
  • 1976-1978: St. Felicitas (San Leandro, CA)
  • 1978-1979: St. Edward’s (Newark, CA)
  • 1979-1982: Santa Paula (Fremont, CA)
  • 1982-1985: Our Lady of the Rosary (Union City, CA)
  • 1985-1987: St. Catherine of Sienna (Martinez, CA)
  • 1987-1990: Good Shepherd (Pittsburg, CA)
  • 1991: Unknown
  • 1992: St. Anthony (Oakley, CA)
  • 1993: Unknown
  • 1994-1997: St. Lawrence O’Toole (Oakland, CA)
  • 1995-2002: The AIDS Project (Oakland, CA)
  • 1995-2002: Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse (Fremont, CA)
  • 1997-2002: St. Alphonsus Liguori (San Leandro, CA)
  • 2002-2011: Unknown

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Robert E Freitas:

According to media reports, in 1985, Fr. Robert E Freitas was accused of molesting two teen boys at Our Lady of the Rosary in Union City, California. He was sent for treatment and placed on “restricted ministry”.

According to media reports, in 2002, a man told the Diocese that Freitas molested him in 1979 when he was a 15-year-old boy at Santa Paula in Fremont, CA and the police were notified. The accuser wore a wire during a meeting in which Freitas admitted the abuse and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation.

In 2002, Freitas was removed from ministry for six months and sent to the House of Affirmation, a treatment center for clergy, in Massachusetts. In 2003, he was accused of sexually abusing an 11-year old boy in 1977 at All Saints in Hayward, CA. At least four more of his child sex abuse victims are believed to have not yet come forward, according to Police.

In June 2003, Freitas was released from prison when the Supreme Court overturned a ruling that had lifted the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children. A settlement was reached in November 2003.

In June 2004, the Diocese publicly apologized to parish communities for his “acts of clerical sexual abuse of minors that occurred”. Freitas’ name appeared on the Diocese of Oaklands’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors in 2019.

Freitas was laicized in 2007 and died in 2011.

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