Msgr. Ernesto Corral Villaroya
Ordained: 1959
Assignments:
According to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, at least one survivor has come forward alleging child sexual abuse by Msgr. Ernesto C. Villaroya in approximately 1983. It is believed he fathered a child born of the abuse. Msgr. Villaroya was an extern priest visiting from the Philippines. He lacked permission from the Archdiocese to function as a priest but did so anyway. The Archdiocese sent Msgr. Villaroya three “cease and desist” letters – in 1991, 1993, and 1995 – after other clerics expressed concern that he was working in a parish. He is believed to have worked as a guest priest at St. Philomena in Carson, California for years before the first warning letter was sent in 1991. Msgr. Villaroya initially failed to seek permission to serve in the Archdiocese and was rejected when he asked later. Msgr. Villaroya was hired by the Diocese of Dallas in 1996 and apparently had not worked officially as a priest in 12 years. He has been named in at least one civil lawsuit filed in 2002. The Diocese placed him on administrative leave after they learned of the lawsuit. Msgr. Villaroya worked as an assistant pastor at St. John Nepomucene in Ennis, Texas when he was placed on leave. In 2003, the suit was dismissed, and Msgr. Villaroya was reassigned to St. Francis of Assisi in Frisco, Texas. Angered parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi forced him to quit. According to the Official Catholic Directory for the year 2010, Msgr. Villaroya was a retired priest residing in the Diocese of Dallas. He is believed to have died in 2018. Msgr. Villaroya was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors.