Priest removed from position

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A priest was put on administrative leave after

allegations surfaced that he molested a boy from a former church more

than 20 years ago, officials said.

Father Jerome Henson was removed from his active role as priest at St.

John the Baptist Catholic Church at 1015 Baker St. after officials at the

Diocese of Orange County learned of alleged sexual misconduct with a

13-year-old in 1981.

Maria Schinderle, the director of human resources at the Diocese of

Orange County, said the charges have not been proven and Henson was

placed on leave in November according to Diocesan policy.

“Our policy is that if there is an allegation of sexual misconduct

with a minor, we need to determine if the priest poses a risk, and while

doing that the priest will be placed on administrative leave,” Schinderle

said.

Schinderle said she did not know when or if Henson will return to his

active position. Any action by the Diocese of Orange County will depend

on the outcome of the investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct

being conducted by the Dominican Fathers, of which Henson was a member

when the alleged incident occurred.

Henson has denied the allegation.

Officials at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church declined comment on

Tuesday.

Jean Forbath, a 40-year member of the parish and founder of Share Our

Selves in Costa Mesa, said she was greatly saddened by the allegations

but continues to be supportive of the priest.

“We only knew good things about Father Jerome, so we felt sorry for

him,” Forbath said. “I continue to pray for him and the victim. If it

turns out to be true, I sympathize with the victim.”

Although the news was upsetting, Forbath said she was proud of her

church community for the way it handled the allegation. The church did

not hide the truth from its parishioners and took measures to ensure no

similar events had happened during Henson’s tenure at St. John the

Baptist Church.

Church members also refrained from childish gossip, she said.

Schinderle said the Diocese of Orange County posted announcements of

the allegations against Henson in church bulletins at St. John the

Baptist, as well as at St. Angela Meirci Church in Brea and St. Anthony

Claret Church in Anaheim, where Henson served as associate pastor before

his Costa Mesa assignment.

The announcements requested that anyone with relevant information call

a toll-free reporting line. There has been no response, Schinderle said.

Henson has been a priest with the Diocese of Orange County since 1983,

and there have been no similar complaints regarding his conduct,

Schinderle said. The diocese was not aware of any inappropriate behavior

with a minor before his arrival in Orange County.

He is the fourth Orange County priest to be removed from active duty

in recent months because of allegations of molestation. The others were

removed from ministry after the allegations of sexual misconduct were

proved, Schinderle said. Henson is still a priest but was removed from

the parish until the investigation is completed.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .