Suit Claims Church Knew of Alleged Molestations

Two attorneys claim Roman Catholic Church officials knew that three priests had molested nine youngsters in incidents dating back to the 1960s but failed to take action.

The nine alleged victims, now men, filed a lawsuit Monday in San Francisco Superior Court.

The personal injury suit named Msgr. Patrick O’Shea of St. Cecelia’s parish in San Francisco; the Rev. Austin Peter Keegan, formerly of St. Eugene’s parish in Santa Rosa, and the Rev. Gary Timmons, founder and counselor at Camp St. Michael in Mendocino County.

The men are seeking unspecified damages against the priests and from Archbishop John Quinn and the archdiocese of San Francisco; Santa Rosa Bishop G. Patrick Ziemann and former Bishop Mark Hurley; the Santa Rosa diocese, and Robert Bailey, director of Camp St. Michael.

Attorneys Maja Ramsey and Mike Meadows say they have evidence that the church knew the men were abused as youngsters, failed to report the incidents to authorities and urged people to remain quiet.

Prosecutors in Mendocino County and San Francisco are reviewing possible criminal charges against two of the priests.

San Francisco church officials said Keegan has been listed as an inactive priest since 1976 and could not be located for comment. Timmons has been placed in an unnamed residential care home, Ziemann said. O’Shea has been placed on leave.

A spokesman for the archdiocese of San Francisco and Archbishop John R. Quinn declined comment on the suit.

O’Shea’s attorney, James P. Collins, said: “There is no merit to the allegations.”

Michael Pavelka accused Keegan of throwing him to the ground, removing his clothes and fondling and molesting him at the church school and rectory, the suit said.

William Cubero said O’Shea fondled him in 1969 during a camping trip to Lake Berryessa in Napa County.

San Francisco police are investigating allegations that O’Shea molested 11 boys.

Timmons was relieved of his duties as pastor of St. Bernard’s Church in Eureka in February after two men came forward with claims that he had molested them at a summer camp nearly two decades ago.