Msgr. Brent Eagen – Diocese of San Diego

| Sep 15, 2020 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Monsignor Brent Eagen

Diocese of San Diego

Ordained: 1956

Died: 1997

Assigned as follows:

  • 1957-1959:      Holy Rosary (San Bernardino, CA)
  • 1960-1967:      San Diego College for Men (San Diego, CA)
  • 1968-1969:      University of San Diego (San Diego, CA)
  • 1970-1973:      Boys Town of the Desert, Inc. (Banning, CA)
  • 1971-1976:      Cathedral Plaza Development Corporation (La Mesa, CA)
  • 1971-1992:      Mission (Basilica) San Diego De Alcala (San Diego, CA)
  • 1993-1997:      University of San Diego

Summary of Abuse Allegations against Monsignor Brent Eagen:

Monsignor Brent Eagen was ordained a priest in 1956, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of San Diego, where he was chancellor from 1968 to 1989. He also worked at multiple parishes which became part of the Diocese of San Bernardino when the Diocese was established in 1978. In 1993, he became the University of San Diego’s first vice president for Mission and Ministry.

According to media reports, in 2003, Monsignor Eagen was named in a civil lawsuit which accused him of sexually abusing a minor girl in the summer of 1972, while he worked at Mission San Diego De Alcala. The alleged abuse occurred at Nazareth House, an orphanage run by the diocese near the mission. The girl was 14 years old, and worked in the residence for the priests. According to the suit, Monsignor Eagen became a “father figure” to her and she began to spend more time in the residence. One day, he invited her to his private room for a talk. Instead, she said she was raped on his bed, then told never to tell anyone.

The woman also alleged prior abuse at the orphanage by a nun and a handyman, as well as later abuse by Father Robert Buchanan.  Church officials said Monsignor Eagen had an exemplary record and no previous allegations of misconduct.

Monsignor Eagen died in October 1997. As part of a settlement with survivors of clergy child sexual abuse, the Diocese of San Diego released his personnel file in October 2010, .

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Diego 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 San Diego now have legal options due to a temporary change in the 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.