A retired San Bernardino priest is facing accusations that he sexually abused at least five boys during his 24 years at St. Aquinas Catholic High School and has been stripped of his ministerial rights.
The Diocese of San Bernardino, in emails and letters sent this week to the school's alumni, revealed that Father Robert J. Donat, who now lives in retirement in L.A. County, was being accused by an alleged victim of that sexual abuse. Church officials deemed the accusation "credible."
The diocese asked all former students who might have information to contact church or police officials. The alleged abuse mentioned in the emails and letters occurred on an out-of-state trip.
Donat reached at his Torrance home declined to comment.
Rebecca Rhoades, an attorney for one of the alleged victims abused in 1973, said she "spoke to five victims who were aged between 15 and 17 at the time of the abuse." Rhoades said those men also provided the names of other potential victims.
"He was at the school a long time," she said. "I would expect other victims will come forward."
The abuse allegedly occurred on road trips with the priest, as well as inside the rectory and in his car. "He would groom the boys, calling them his special friend," she said.
John Andrews, a spokesman for the diocese, said church officials were aware of only one alleged victim who was a student at the school in 1973.
Donat was stripped of all priestly duties about a month and half ago after the diocese learned of the allegations.
According to the diocese, Donat served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Montclair from 1993 to
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