California Catholic priest arrested for sexual crimes against children; survivors group hopes that the victims will finally see justice
For Immediate Release: June 18, 2025
On June 12, 2025, a Catholic priest from San Diego was arrested for the sexual assault of three children. The crimes occurred over 30 years ago. From 1991 through 1999, the clergyman reportedly brought the children, who were all under 14 years old, to the Central Coast. He is accused of committing oral copulation on all three and sodomy on one.
SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful that the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office is pursuing this case. We hope that the victims will finally receive a measure of justice through the courts for all their years of suffering.
The accused, Fr. Theodore Edward Gabrielli, worked at churches, schools, and ministries in San Jose, Los Gatos, and Los Angeles. His past assignments include Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose, Dolores Mission in Los Angeles, and Social Ministries in Los Gatos. Prior to his arrest, the clergyman was a member of the Loyola High School of Los Angeles' Board of Directors. He was also working with the Dolores Mission in Los Angeles. Fr. Gabrielli remains in jail without bail until his arraignment on July 8th.
Each month SNAP reads, on average, four news reports about the arrest of Catholic clergy or staffers for sexual abuse or misconduct. We have recorded 24 such arrests in 2025 so far - just about one per week.
This disturbing news from San Luis Opispo shows us once again that the persistent claims from Church officials that the abuse scandal is “a thing of the past" are simply not true. Abuse is very much a thing of the present.
It can take survivors decades to report the crimes they endured, as this case demonstrates. When those they accuse have remained in ministry, as Fr. Gabrielli did, it is very likely that there will also be more recent victims. While it may take those children years to come forward, we hope that reports like this will encourage survivors not to continue suffering alone and in silence.
The investigation into Fr. Gabrielli is ongoing and anyone with more information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Detective Division at 805-781-4500. If someone wishes to make an anonymous report, they can call 805-549-7867 or submit an online tip here.
Contact: Terri Austin, SNAP Central Coast ([email protected], 209-819-7619), Dan McNevin, SNAP Treasurer, SNAP Oakland ([email protected], 415-341-6417), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175, Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
