Diocese of Orange Settles Abuse Case for $3.5 Million

The Diocese of Orange has agreed to pay a $3.5 million settlement to a man, referred to as John Doe, who alleged he was sexually abused by former Monsignor Michael Harris while attending Mater Dei High School in the late 1970s. This lawsuit, which was initiated in 2019, has brought the total paid out by the Diocese related to Harris to at least $10 million. Doe stated that he still struggles with the trauma of the abuse, emphasizing that the promises made by the Diocese and the school were broken by placing him in the care of a predator. Although Harris has denied the allegations and faced no criminal charges, his history of abuse has been corroborated by numerous other former students. The Diocese, while maintaining its defense, chose to settle to avoid a trial, expressing regret for the harm caused and reaffirming its commitment to support survivors and prevent future incidents. The Diocese has implemented a comprehensive child protection system to safeguard against such abuses in the future.