January 05, 2005

Jesuit priest relieved of duties

NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Times-Picayune

Wednesday, January 05, 2005
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer

A priest and faculty member at Jesuit High School has been relieved of ministry on a credible charge that he sexually abused a minor years ago, his religious order said Tuesday.

The Rev. Claude Boudreaux, 80, a Latin teacher at Jesuit, was relieved after his order received an allegation from an unnamed person about a month ago, said the Rev. Paul Deutsch, a spokesman for the New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus -- the Jesuits. The incident did not involve a Jesuit High student, a school spokesman said.

An internal investigation convinced the Rev. Fred Kammer, the order's provincial, or local superior, that the claim was credible, Deutsch said. An advisory board dominated by lay members also reviewed the allegation, Deutsch said.

Boudreaux has been transferred out of New Orleans "for extended medical treatment" at an undisclosed location, Deutsch said. He would not disclose the reason for the treatment.

Deutsch declined to say directly whether Boudreaux denied the allegation. "He is cooperating with the provincial in this matter. To answer more would move into his area of privacy," Deutsch said.

Posted by kshaw at January 5, 2005 06:45 AM