Fr. Michael Edwin Wempe
Ordained: 1963
Assignments:
- 1967-1969: St. John Chrysostom, Inglewood, CA
- 1969: St. Andrew, Pasadena, CA
- 1970-1973: St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, CA
- 1974-1977: St. Jude, Westlake Village, CA
- 1978: Sacred Heart, Ventura, CA
- 1979-1984: Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA
- 1979-1984: St. Mary, Palmdale, CA
- 1985-1987: St. Sebastian, Santa Paula, CA
- 1987-1988: Servants of the Paraclete, Jemez Springs, NM
- 1989: St. Ambrose, West Hollywood, CA
- 1990-1992: Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- 1993-1998: St. Ambrose, West Hollywood, CA
- 1999: Unknown
- 2000-2002: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, CA
- 2002: Retired
- 2003-2018: Unknown
According to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at least 13 survivors have come forward alleging child sexual abuse by Fr. Michael E. Wempe, between approximately 1972 and 1995. Fr. Wempe was sent to Servants of the Paraclete in New Mexico, an institution known for treating priests accused of child sexual abuse. He was removed from ministry in early 2002. Fr. Wempe was arrested in June 2003 on child sexual abuse charges that were later dropped because they fell outside the statute of limitations. In September 2003, Fr. Wempe was arrested on new charges of child sexual abuse. He was sentenced to three years in prison, fined $600, and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Fr. Wempe has been named in several civil lawsuits and was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. It is believed Fr. Wempe was living in Seal Beach, CA in approximately 2004. Since 2003, Fr. Wempe’s status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.