Msgr. Anthony G. Herdegen
Ordained: 1959
Assignments:
- 1947–1948 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bakersfield, CA (MF)
- 1949 Sacred Heart, Fresno, CA (MF)
- 1950–1952 Diocesan Assignment, Secretary, P.O. Box 1923, Fresno, CA (MF)
- 1953 St. Patrick, Watsonville, CA (MF)
- 1954 St. Patrick, Kerman, CA (MF)
- 1955–1959 Holy Angels, (Atascadero) Santa Margarita, CA (MF)
- 1960-1976 St. John’s, Wasco, CA (MF/FRS)
- 1977–1978 Holy Rosary, Hilmar, CA (FRS)
- 1979–1980 Our Lady of Lourdes, Corcoran, CA (FRS)
- 1981–1982 St. Anne, Porterville, CA (FRS)
- 1983–1984 St. Mary, Taft, CA (FRS)
- 1985–1995 St. Jude, Kern River Valley, CA (FRS)
- 1996–2004 Retired (FRS)
- 2005–2008 Unknown
- 2009 Died
Msgr. Anthony G. Herdegen worked as a priest for nearly four decades before retiring in 1995. In 2003, he was accused of sexually abusing a boy for fourteen years, beginning when the survivor was a young minor. The boy’s older brother also accused Msgr. Herdegen of sexually abusing him after the brother attempted to protect his younger brother. The case was initially dismissed due to lack of evidence; however, later, an appellate court unanimously agreed that Msgr. Herdegen had sexually abused the brothers but that the Church had no knowledge of the events and thus was not liable. During the trial, it is reported that one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys received a call from a man claiming that Msgr. Herdegen had sexually abused him in 1967, two years prior to the sexual abuse of the brothers. The man claims to have told the school principal about the abuse, but no action was ever taken. As of 2009, Msgr. Herdegen had admitted to sexually abusing the two brothers, but he remained a retired priest in good standing. Msgr. Herdegen’s status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he had access to children from 2005 until his death are unknown.