As you may be aware from press reports, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached a settlement in a case of past alleged abuse concerning Fr. Christopher Cunningham while he served at St. Louise de Marillac Parish. The Archdiocese did not know of any allegation of sexual misconduct by Fr. Cunningham until 2015, when the initial claim was filed, and was not aware of the additional claims until recently advised by plaintiffs’ counsel. He has been inactive and out of ministry since 2005 after the Archdiocese received allegations of improper boundary violations in August 2005. According to Archdiocesan policy, the matter was investigated and an announcement concerning the allegations was made at Fr. Cunningham’s parish informing the parish community. He has consistently denied allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.
The Archdiocese has now received three allegations of potential misconduct involving Fr. Cunningham from approximately 1998 to 2001 involving persons in our parish who were then minor males. Fr. Cunningham served as Associate Pastor at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish from July 1998 to January 2001. There are other allegations involving Fr. Cunningham, but these three involve our parish.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles continues our longstanding commitment to the support and healing of victim-survivors of abuse and reaffirms our commitment to protect our children and young people from harm. For more information on the Archdiocese’s policies and protocols concerning abuse prevention and the protection of children and young people, visit https://protect.la-archdiocese.org/.