Press Conference Tomorrow – 11:00 a.m. | Outside Crystal Cathedral
Mater Dei Employed 13 Known Child Predators
“We will unveil the breadth and depth of the debauchery and deception at Mater Dei.” – Jeff Anderson
WHAT:
Tomorrow, at a press conference, survivors, advocates and attorneys (holding protest signs and posters) will announce a $3.5 million settlement with the Diocese of Orange and a child sex abuse survivor of the former Principal of Mater Dei and Santa Margarita Catholic High Schools – Msgr. Michael Harris. They will also:
- Expose 13 known predators employed by Mater Dei High School.
- Unveil horrific details of decades of child sexual abuse.
- For the first time, share a statement from the John Doe survivor abused by Harris.
WHY:
The Diocese of Orange agreed to settle a case with a brave survivor of former priest and notorious predator Michael Harris. As of 2012, Harris has been accused of abusing at least 13 victims. Jeff Anderson & Associates represents:
- 7 cases involving Michael Harris.
- 8 cases involving Mater Dei.
- 63 cases involving the Diocese of Orange.
“Scandal after scandal, crime after crime, Mater Dei High School’s response is the same – deny, deflect, and redirect. Deny wrongdoing, deflect responsibility, and redirect attention to other things – like football, athletics, and scholarships.” – Mike Reck, attorney
Lawsuits have exposed at least 13 child predators who worked at Mater Dei. All were a part of a decades-long institutional problem at the school that involved transferring predators to new locations, allowing credibly accused staff to quietly resign, demoting accused administrators, encouraging accused teachers to “lawyer up,” and refusing to disclose accusations and arrests with parents and students.
“Today, we praise the courage of this victim who’s transformed into a survivor. John Doe 1003 went to Michael Harris for mentorship and support. Instead, he was targeted, exploited and left with trauma that will impact the rest of his life. This settlement doesn’t erase that trauma but provides a semblance of justice that is long overdue.” – Neda Lotfi, attorney
PRESS EVENT DETAILS:
When: Wednesday, December 18th | 11:00 a.m.
Where: Outside of Christ (Crystal) Cathedral, corner of Lewis Street and Chapman Avenue (12141 Lewis St, Garden Grove, CA)
Notes: The event will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel.