Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

12 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Lawrence A. Cavell

Ordained: 1989
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Removed in 3/2003 after allegations that he solicited a minor for sex in late the 1980s, prior to ordination. Cavell, who had just gone on health leave from St. Mary's Nativity, admitted to the single offense. The Diocese said the incident involved "words, not acts." Cavell was said to be considering leaving the priesthood. On the Diocese's list 1/11/2019. Noted to have been "stripped of his ability to perform priestly duties."

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Fr. Alexander Francisco

Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Filipino. Arrived in the diocese in 1991. Accused at some point of inappropriately touching a teenager. The victim and parents told the bishop and requested that Francisco get psychological treatment. After treatment Francisco was cleared to return to work by a review committee. Placed on leave in 7/2002 from St. Bernadette Church due to the previous allegation. Francisco admitted to his behavior. He requested laicization in 2002.

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Fr. Gerard P. Kinane

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 03/2/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Placed on leave without faculties in 3/2004 after a man alleged that Kinane molested him in 1973 and again in 1975 when he was a teenager and Kinane was assigned to St. Mark's in Chalmette. Kinane had been performing limited ministry prior to his suspension. No criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. Also worked in PA and FL. The Vatican ordered a church trial in 2004. Kinane sued the archbishop in 2005 for defamation; the suit was dismissed in 2010. Included on the New Orleans archdiocese's list 11/2/2018. It noted an accusation was first received in 1993 of abuse in the 1970s and 1980s. On Houma-Thibodaux diocese's list 1/11/2019. (Houma-Thibodaux was created in 1977; it had been part of New Orleans archdiocese.) On 3/9/2020 we received an anonymous report that Kinane died in FL. Per his obituary, Kinane was from Conway, AK and died in Safety Harbor FL 3/2/2020, age 74.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of New Orleans list 11.02.18

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Fr. Patrick R. Kujawa

Ordained: 1995
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Sent for treatment after his housekeeper found 220 pornographic photos in the rectory in 12/1999. Arrested in 1/2000 and charged with 62 counts of downloading child pornography. Pleaded guilty in 12/2000; received a 10-year probated sentence. Arrested again in 2/2004 after more pornography was found at the Benedictine monastery where he was living. Received a mandatory 10-year prison sentence in 4/2004. Received an additional 10-year sentence in 9/2004 for violating his original probation. Included on the diocese's list 1/11/2019, noting that he was due for release from prison in 2022.

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Fr. Etienne LeBlanc

Ordained: 1971
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Assigend to Annunziata in Houma when placed on leave in 8/2007 after an allegation by a 26-year-old man that LeBlanc sexually abused him, including rape, when he was a 9-year-old altar boy Holy Cross in Morgan City in the early 1990s. LeBlanc denied the allegation. He had been sent to counseling 1986-1987. His accuser filed a civil lawsuit in 2007 and made a criminal complaint. In 7/2011, a court ordered the Diocese to turn its investigative report over to the plaintiff. The Diocese objected. Other alleged victims known. Documents to remain sealed as of 8/2011. Case settled in 10/2012. LeBlanc's name is included on the Diocese's list 1/11/2019 which notes "diocese stripped LeBlanc of his ability to perform priestly duties."

Assignments:

Houma Today 09.01.07

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Fr. Ramon Luce

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

From the Diocese of San Pablo in the Philippines. Assigned at some point to Holy Savior in Lockport LA. On the Houma-Thibodaux diocese's list 1/11/2019. Noted to have voluntarily left the priesthood and stripped of ministry in the diocese after "credible allegations of serious and unacceptable conduct with minors."

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Fr. Robert L. Melancon

Ordained: 1962
Status: Convicted

Died: 11/5/2018
Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Arrested in 6/1995. Had already been placed on leave and sent for therapy. Charged with raping an 8-year-old altar boy repeatedly 1985-1991. In 7/1995 someone gave Melancon's attorney a $1M cashier's check to pay for bail. Convicted in 6/1996. Sentenced to life without parole. Accuser settled a civil suit with diocese for $800K. Church paid $30K in 1993 to settle with another person who had a "relationship" with Melancon as a minor. Melancon was reported to have admitted during trial to "sexual relationship" with a 12-year-old at St. Genevieve's in Thibodaux. Died in prison 11/5/2018, age 82. Included on the diocese's list 1/11/2019.

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Fr. Carlos Melendez

Donate Photo

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Priest of the Missionaries of Christ Crucified in El Salvador. Named publicly as accused on the Houma-Thibodaux diocese's list 1/11/2019. Worked at some point in the diocese in Hispanic ministry. Accused of inappropriate physical contact with a child. Removed from ministry within the diocese after pleading guilty to battery of a minor. Returned by federal immigration authorities to El Salvador.

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Fr. Dac Nguyen

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1988
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Priest of the Society of Domus Dei. Named publicly as accused by the Houma-Thibodaux diocese on its list 1/11/2019. Assigned at some point to Thanh Gia (Holy Family) in Amelia. Removed from ministry due to "credible allegations of serious and unacceptable conduct with minors."

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Fr. Daniel Poche

Ordained: 1978
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/11/2019. Removed from ministry at some point after "credible allegations of serious and unacceptable conduct with minors."

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Fr. Gerald Prinz

Ordained: 1968
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

Accused in a 1995 lawsuit of abuse in 1973 and 1978. On New Orleans archdiocese's list 11/2/2018. It notes that Prinz was incardinated into the Houma-Thibodaux diocese when it was created in 1977, and that he resigned from the priesthood in 1990. Per some accounts, he left the priesthood in the late 1980s. Included on the Houma-Thibodaux diocese's list 1/11/2019, which notes an allegation in 2002 of the rape of a boy in the 1970s while assigned to St. Gregorys and St. Louis.

Assignments:

Archdiocese of New Orleans list 11.02.18

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Fr. Bernard Schmaltz

Ordained: 1973
Status: Sued

Died: 02/5/2010
Diocese: Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux LA

A man filed a lawsuit in 1992 alleging abuse by Schmaltz on a 1973 fishing trip to Slidell, LA and in a rectory. Per the suit, the boy told several people, including the parish pastor. Schmaltz was placed on paid leave. In 8/1995, a trial judge ruled that the plaintiff had waited too long to file suit. Schmaltz retired in 1996, saying allegations of sexual abuse had dogged his priesthood with other allegation at an earlier assignment. Allegations of abuse in the 1970s were also received. Schmaltz filed suit against the archbishop for slander in 2004. He died 2/5/2010. Included on the archdiocese's list 11/2/2018. On the Houma-Thibodaux diocese's list 1/11/2019. (It was established in 1977, formerly part of New Orleans archdiocese.)

Assignments:

Archdiocese of New Orleans list 11.02.18

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