Fr. Carlos Peralta, S.B.D.: Clergy With Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct With Minors

Fr. Carlos Peralta, S.B.D.

Ordained: 1990

Assignments:

  • 1980-1996: Chile, Peru, and Guatemala
  • 1997: Argentina
  • 1998-1999: St. John Bosco, Chicago, IL (CHI)
  • 1999: Virginia
  • 1999: Salesian Residence, NJ (NEW)
  • 2000: Unknown
  • 2001: Mexico City, Mexico
  • 2002-2019: Unknown

Fr. Carlos Peralta was ordained a priest for the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1990. Beginning in the 1980’s, Fr. Peralta had a history of child sexual abuse in Chile, Guatemala, and Peru. In 1997, the Salesians sent Fr. Peralta to Domus Mariae, an institution in Argentina known for treating priests accused of child sexual abuse. In approximately 1998 the Salesians transferred Fr. Peralta to Chicago and told the Salesians in Chicago that Fr. Peralta had no problem working with minors. In 1999, a lawsuit was filed alleging Fr. Peralta sexually abused four boys at St. John Bosco in Chicago. Fr. Peralta was subsequently removed from public ministry and sent to a treatment center in Virginia and then to a residence for Salesians in New Jersey. As of 2001, Fr. Peralta was reportedly working in Mexico City as a priest with no unsupervised contact with children. In 2002, civil authorities in Chicago asked Fr. Peralta’s superior to return Fr. Peralta to Chicago for questioning, but they have yet to do so. In 2018, Fr. Peralta was included on the Archdiocese of Chicago’s list of “Religious Order Priests with Substantiated Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with Minors.” It is believed that Fr. Peralta is living in Mexico, however his current status as a priest, his whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.