Diocese of Orange Reaches $3.5 Million Settlement in Mater Dei Abuse Case

The settlement resolves allegations of decades-old sexual abuse by former Mater Dei High School principal Michael Harris, who has faced multiple accusations but no criminal charges.

• The Diocese of Orange agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a lawsuit from a man alleging he was sexually abused in 1978 at Mater Dei High School by then-vice principal Michael Harris.
• Michael Harris, a former high-profile Catholic school administrator, has been accused by over a dozen individuals of sexual abuse but has denied the allegations and was never criminally charged.
• The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, stated that the abuse caused lasting trauma and criticized the Diocese for failing to protect students from known predators.
• The Diocese of Orange stated that the settlement was funded entirely by its insurers and emphasized its commitment to creating a safer environment through background checks and training programs.
• This case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits enabled by a California law allowing survivors to file claims for decades-old abuse, with thousands of cases filed statewide against Catholic dioceses.

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