Sex Cases Against 2 Ex-Priests Dismissed

Charges were dropped Tuesday against two former Southern California priests in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state’s efforts to prosecute old molestation allegations.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Goethals dismissed 10 felony sexual assault counts against John Lenihan, who was arrested in March and freed on $100,000 bail while he awaited trial.

Lenihan, who had been a popular pastor at St. Edward Church in Dana Point, was accused of impregnating a teenage parishioner of a church in Orange 21 years ago and paying for her abortion. A key piece of evidence was a letter he wrote to Pope John Paul II, asking to be released from the priesthood. In it, Lenihan, 57, admitted he had had affairs with two teenagers starting in 1978.

“I’m disappointed that the victims lost their chance to have their day in court to seek justice for the abuse they endured,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Sheila Hanson.

The former clergyman was not in court for the proceeding. His attorney, Ron Talmo, could not be reached for comment.

Lenihan’s hearing was pushed up after the Supreme Court last month overturned a state law that had erased the statute of limitations on molestation cases. In 1993, the Legislature changed the law to say that accused abusers could be prosecuted so long as the charges were brought within a year of when authorities were notified. The law was retroactive.

In Los Angeles County, Michael Wempe became the fourth priest to have his case dismissed since the Supreme Court decision. He was arrested last month and faced 42 counts of child molestation for allegedly sexually abusing five boys during the 1970s.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony removed Wempe from the ministry in 2002 as the abuse scandal escalated, and the archbishop retroactively applied a zero-tolerance policy for abusers.

Wempe, 63, was accompanied to the Malibu courthouse by his mother, with whom he lives.

“He was very grateful,” said his attorney, Leonard Levine. “His only regret is he didn’t get a chance to clear himself.”

At least three alleged victims have sued Wempe and the Los Angeles Archdiocese.