Msgr. Vincent Ignatius Breen
ORDAINED: 1936
Assignments:
- 1936-1938: St. Mary’s, Stockton, CA
- 1938-1942: Catholic University, Washington, DC
- 1942-1944: Nativity, San Francisco, CA
- 1944-1946: St. Joseph Military Academy, Belmont, CA
- 1944-1952: Serra High School for Boys, San Mateo, CA
- 1952-1953: St. Mary’s, Walnut Creek, CA (OAK)
- 1953-1982: Holy Ghost, Fremont, CA (SFR until 1961; OAK 1962 forward)
- 1982-1986: Retired
- 1986: Died
Msgr. Vincent Breen worked in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese of Oakland, and he has been accused of sexually abusing several children throughout his career as a priest. The allegations are related to his 29-year tenure at Holy Ghost in Fremont. According to police reports, one parishioner had been told not to leave her daughters around Msgr. Breen. Msgr. Breen allegedly took pictures of the girls and let the young girls jump on a trampoline in his room while he abused them. Many young girls told school officials about the abuse, but no steps were taken to stop or report the abuse. In 1976, Msgr. Breen was investigated, but the investigation was led by another alleged child molester. The results of the investigation were never made public. In 1981, police investigated Msgr. Breen in the wake of reports that he had sexually abused children. The investigation indicated that at least eight girls had been sexually abused by Msgr. Breen. No criminal charges were filed on the condition that Msgr. Breen retire, leave the area, and seek counseling. It is believed that he may have sexually abused as many as 100 young children. Msgr. Breen has been named in at least two civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse.