January 23, 2005

Baton Rouge campus plans to change its name

BATON ROUGE (LA)
Times-Picayune

Sunday, January 23, 2005
By John-John Williams IV
River Parishes bureau

This should have been a time of celebration for Bishop Sullivan High School in Baton Rouge. But in addition to marking 20 years of educating children, the school community finds itself mulling choices for a new name.

The school's namesake, former Bishop Joseph Sullivan, was accused last spring of sexual abuse in 1975 involving a 17-year-old boy. The Archdiocese of Baton Rouge has settled a lawsuit filed by the victim, now in his 40s.

Perhaps the most public outcome of the case will be a new name for the high school Sullivan helped open in 1984.

The school board has been asked to come up with five alternative names by the end of this month. Archdiocese officials said a name will be chosen by the end of February and announced in June. The new name will take effect with the 2005-06 school year.

Robert Furlow, director of communications for the Baton Rouge Diocese, said reactions to the news of the name change have been mixed.

Posted by kshaw at January 23, 2005 03:37 AM