Fr. Michael Stephen Baker
1974: Ordained
Assignments:
- 1974-1976: St. Joan of Arc, Los Angeles, CA
- 1976-1982: St. Paul of the Cross, La Mirada, CA
- 1982-1986: St. Hilary’s, Pico Rivera, CA
- 1986: Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN
- 1987: St. Catherine of Laboure, Torrance, CA
- 1987: Servants of the Paraclete, Jemez Springs, NM
- 1987: St. Elisabeth’s, Van Nuys, CA
- 1987-1988: St. Thomas the Apostle, Los Angeles, CA
- 1988-1993: St. Elisabeth’s, Van Nuys, CA
- 1991: St. Linus, Norwalk, CA
- 1991: St. Gerard Majella, Los Angeles, CA
- 1992: St. Mary’s, Palmdale, CA
- 1992: St. Lucy’s, Long Beach, CA
- 1992: Sacred Heart, Lincoln Heights, CA
- 1993-1997: St. Columbkille, Los Angeles, CA
- 1993-1996: Office of Vicar for Clergy, Los Angeles, CA
- 1996: Sabbatical
- 1997-2000: St. Camillus De Lellis Center for Pastoral Care/L.A. County/University of Southern CA Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
- 2000: Laicized
- 2001-2006: Unknown
- 2007-2011: Prison
- 2011-2018: Unknown
Fr. Michael Stephen Baker is estimated to have sexually abused at least 23 children. In approximately 1986, Fr. Baker admitted to Cardinal Roger Mahony that he had sexually abused children. In response, Cardinal Mahony sent Fr. Baker to treatment and returned him to ministry shortly thereafter. In 2000, two brothers who accused Fr. Baker of sexually abusing them as children settled their lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Criminal charges against Fr. Baker in connection with the abuse were dropped after the U.S. Supreme Court barred the revival of decades-old prosecutions of child sexual abuse. Fr. Baker was laicized in 2000. In 2006, the Archdiocese settled with alleged survivors of Fr. Baker as part of a settlement with 45 alleged survivors of abuse by priests in the Archdiocese. In 2007, the Archdiocese settled with alleged survivors of Fr. Baker as part of a settlement with 508 alleged survivors of abuse by priests in the Archdiocese. Fr. Baker was arrested in January 2006 on suspicion of child sexual abuse. In approximately December 2007, he pled guilty to sexually abusing two boys and was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison. He was released on parole in approximately October 2011 and arrested for violating his parole in approximately November 2011 and September 2012. In approximately 2013, the Archdiocese settled four cases alleging child sexual abuse by Fr. Baker. Fr. Baker was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. Since approximately 2011, Fr. Baker’s whereabouts and whether he has access to children are unknown.