Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Summary of Assignments:
- 1970 – 1972: San Jose; Albuquerque, NM
- 1972 – 1972: Our Lady of Mt. Caramel; Moriarty, NM
- 1973 – 1974: SS Peter and Paul; Estancia, NM
- 1974 – 1976: Catholic Church of Estancia Valley; Estancia, NM
- 1976 – 1981: St. Francis; Ranchos de Taos, NM
- Some time in the 70s/80s: St. Anthony; Penasco, NM
- 1981 – 1984: St. Gertrude; Mora, NM
- 1984 – 1986: Our Lady of Sorrows; Las Vegas, NM
- 1986 – 1989: St. Anthony’s; Questa, NM
- 1989 – 1991: Bethany on the Rio Grande; Albuquerque, NM
- 1991 – 1992: Absent on Leave
- Death: January 14, 1993
Notes: Pastor of a number of archdiocesan parishes; started ‘Pilgrimage for Vocations’ in 1973, which were week-long walks for youth through northern NM, with sleepovers at parishes along the way. O’Brien died in 1/93 at age 48 (possibly of AIDS per Plaintiff’s attorney). In 2012 a man told archdiocese that he had been sexually abused by O’Brien at age 10-11 in mid-1980s when O’Brien was assigned to St. Anthony in Questa. The Archdiocese provided counseling for several months but it ceased when Plaintiff retained attorney. He filed civil suit 4/2/13. Three more men filed suits a few weeks later, and six more shortly thereafter. By 12/15 O’Brien was named as a perpetrator of sexual abuse vs NM boys in the 1970s-80s in 17 lawsuits, at least 9 of which had been settled.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal 04.02.13; KOB 04.02.13; KRQE 04.02.13; New Mexican 04.02.13; Albuquerque Journal 04.03.13; KOAT 04.03.13; KOAT 04.11.13; Albuquerque Journal 05.01.13; SNAP Statement 05.01.13; Albuquerque Journal 05.08.13; KOB 05.08.13; Albuquerque Journal 01.06.14; KOB 04.30.14; The Repbublic 11.18.14; ABQ Journal 11.19.14; Albuquerque Journal 12.06.15; BA.org Assignment Record; http://bishop-accountability.org/