Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

21 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. John Joseph Berube

Order: MS
Ordained: 1953
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Member of Missionary Fathers of La Salette. Died in 1998. Four men filed suit spring 2003 alleging that they were abused by Berube over a 6-month period in 1965, when he was assigned to St. Theresa of Avila church. Parents complained; Berube was transferred shortly thereafter. Worked in Canada and in Boston. Settled 4/04 just before trial. On diocese's list in 2019. It notes "priestly service" in diocese "terminated in 1965."

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Fr. Carmelo Ignatius Camenzuli

Ordained: 1966
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru. Extern priest in Baton Rouge. Report to diocese 5/18/2000 of abuse in the early 1980s, while assigned to St. Joseph Cathedral. Camenzuli left the diocese in 1985. Died in 1998. On the Baton Rouge diocese's list in 2019.

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Fr. David William Chaloux

Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Died: 09/26/1990
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Baton Rouge on its list in early 2019. Allegation received 9/5/2018 of abuse in the mid-1970s. Chaloux was laicized in 1986. He died in 1990.

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Fr. James Preston Clement

Ordained: 1945
Status: Accused

Died: 01/22/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. It notes reports received in 10/2005 and 8/2018 of abuse in the 1960s. Retired in 1988. Died in 2001.

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Fr. John J. Coyne

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1941
Status: Accused

Died: 06/4/1981
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019, noting an allegation received in 12/2002 of abuse 1968-1972. Coyne left the diocese in 1977. Also known to have worked in New Orleans in 1979. Died in 1981.

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Fr. Thomas P. Duhe

Ordained: 1978
Status: Insufficient evidence

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Removed in 4/2010 from St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge after allegations that Duhe abused a boy, between ages 12-15, in the late 1990s. The bishop said the Review Board reported "no sufficient evidence could be found to substantiate or corroborate the claim." Duhe was returned to his parish 2/27/2011.

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Seminarian James R. Funnell

Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Student at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019. Multiple allegations received in 1/2012, 12/2013 and 4/2016 of abuse in the late 1970s while a youth minister in Baker, LA. Went on leave from seminary in 1979 and did not return. Youth minister at St. John Vianney in Bothell WA, Archdiocese of Seattle, 1985 until his arrest in 1989 for the rape at the parish of a teenage boy ages 13-14. The abuse began in 1985 and went on for a year. Additional charges several weeks later after allegations that he showed pornographic films to teenage boys and exposed himself to a 12-year-old boy. Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years' probation. Victim said in 2012 that he knew of at least 10-12 others abused by Funnell and believed there were more. Lawsuit settled in 11/2012 for $635K. Funnell reportedly changed his name to James Fionnghael and moved to Virginia Beach VA.

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Fr. George David Gensler

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Died: 02/14/2016
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019. Ordained in 1970 for the Diocese of Lafayette, LA. Sworn in as Lafayette police officer in 1973; had previously been a New Orleans cop. Incardinated 1978 into Baton Rouge. Spiritual Director at St. Joseph Cathedral Prep Seminary, parish priest, chaplain for the FBI. Multiple allegations received in 2/1994 and 10/2018 of abuse in the late-1970s while assigned to St. Anthony's in Darrow. Permanently removed from ministry in 1994. Died in 2016. Two new allegations received in 2/2020.

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Fr. Bryan Keith Gray

Ordained: 1979
Status: Indicted

Died: 10/24/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. Allegation received in 3/1992 of abuse of a minor in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Placed on leave and faculties removed in 1992. Died 10/24/2020.

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Fr. Eric Gyan

Ordained: 1986
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

A woman told the diocese in 11/2017 that Gyan sexually abused her in 1996, when she was age 10 and he was pastor of St. John the Baptist in Brusly. She said the abuse occurred during confession. Gyan "categorically denied the allegation." The diocese said it reported the allegation to civil authorities and initiated its own investigation. Gyan was kept in ministry pending the investigation's outcome. The woman also claimed sexual abuse by a priest in a diocese in another state, which reportedly was being investigated there. In 2/2018 the diocese announced that it had determined that the allegation could not be substantiated.

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Fr. Alphonse Rodrigue Hemond

Order: MS
Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Died: 10/23/1990
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Ordained for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 1978. Worked in West Warwick, RI; Ontario, Canada; Baton Rouge, Scotlandville and Maringouin, LA. Retired and died in 1990. Allegations received in 11/1992, 5/2002 and 6/2002 of abuse in the 1960s-1970s while at St. Tomas More in Baton Rouge. On Galveston-Houston's list 1/31/2019. On Baton Rouge diocese's list 3/27/2019. Noted to have left Baton Rouge in 1968. Included in 4/2019 on the Diocese of Tyler's list.

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Fr. Myles Joseph Kearney

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

From Ireland. Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. Allegation received in 4/2002 of abuse in the late-1980s, while assigned to St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville. Faculties removed in 2002. Removed from priestly ministry. (The Diocese notes that this is not the priest with the same name ordained in 1938.)

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Fr. Mansour Labaky

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Lebanese Catholic Maronite priest. Musician, composer. Established and directed a children's choir in Lebanon. Worked in the U.S. in the early 1970s. Established homes for children in Lebanon and France. In 2011 a woman alleged sexual abuse by Labaky in France as a child. Others then came forward. The abuse occurred 1976-1997, and his victims were girls as young as age 7. His niece was among the abused. Believed to have sexually abused more than 50 in France and twice that in Lebanon. On 4/23/2012 the Vatican decreed that Labaky live a life of prayer and penance with restricted ministry for sexually abusing three minors and committing the crime of solicitation on one. On 2/12/2012, while the case was being considered first in Paris, Labaky presided at a mass at St. Garabad Armenian Church in Baton Rouge, LA. He was living in Lebanon in 2016 when Interpol issued an arrest warrant; Lebanon refused extradition. In 11/2021 Lebasky was convicted in absentia in Caen, Normandy France, of the rape and sexual assault of three children at an orphanage that he opened in 1990. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He reportedly continued to remain free in Lebanon. Laicized in 2022.

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Fr. Clyde Bernard Landry

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 08/18/2003
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list in early 2019. Allegations received in 6/1988, 2002 and 2004 of abuse in the 1970s-1980s. Resigned and placed on leave in 1988. Left the diocese in 1990 to work for the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, NM. He was co-director of aftercare at the Paraclete's Villa Louis Martin facility for pedophile priests. Later worked for the Norbertine's in NM. Faculties removed in 1999. Died in 2003. Accused in a 6/2024 lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy over a 9-year period, 1984-1993. The abuse allegedly occurred in multiple places, including at St. Theresa in Gonzales and the rectory of St. George in Baton Rouge.

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Fr. Joseph LeFrois

Order: SSJ
Ordained: 1944
Status: Accused

Died: 04/2/1992
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019. It notes one allegation received in 9/1994, of abuse in the mid-1950s while assigned to Immaculate Conception in Plaquemine. LeFrois died in 1992.

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Fr. Daniel Paul Lemoine

Ordained: 1979
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

A lawsuit filed in 1999 alleged abuse by LeMoine of a teenage boy in the early 1990s; settled in 4/2002. Confidentiality orders from judge. Settlement amount not disclosed but "well below...$600,000." D.A. began investigation after learning of settlement. LeMoine had been evaluated after abuse incident and offered treatment. On diocese's list in early 2019. It notes multiple allegations received 1/1994, 4/1999 and 4/2007, of abuse in the late 1970s - early 1980s. Placed on leave in 1994, faculties removed in 1999.

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Fr. Nicholas Joseph Martrain

Ordained: 1965
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. It notes an allegation received in 5/2002 of abuse before 1980, while Martrain was assigned to a Donaldsonville parish. Left active ministry in 1982 and married. Priestly faculties removed in 1983. Laicized in 1990.

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Fr. Salvador Nickie Moran

Ordained: 1972
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

"Butch." Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. Multiple allegations received 10/1994 and 1/2004 of abuse in the late 1970s-early 1980s, while assigned to St. Joseph the Worker in Pierre Part and St. Philip in Vacherie. Placed on leave and faculties removed in 1994.

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Fr. Henry Neubig

Ordained: 1934
Status: Accused

Died: 08/20/1975
Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Ordained for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Incardinated into the Baton Rouge diocese when it was formed in 1961. Died in 1975. Named publicly as accused by the Baton Rouge diocese on its list in early 2019. It notes an allegation received in 8/2007 of abuse by Neubig in the mid-1950s, while he was assigned to Immaculate Conception in Lakeland.

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Fr. Jesse Ray Ortego

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list in early 2019. One allegation noted to have been received in 8/2008, of abuse in the early 1970s, while assigned to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant. Left the diocese in 1981. Removed from priestly ministry.

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Fr. Christopher Joseph Springer

Order: CSsR
Ordained: 1952
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge LA

Cristoff/Christopher. Worked in Corpus Christi, TX and Baton Rouge. Incardinated into the Baton Rouge diocese in 1973. Faculties removed in 1985. Laicized in 1990. First sued in 1994. Accused of abuse 1968-1980 in several lawsuits. Ten suits were filed in 2006. Some settled. As many as 30 alleged victims. Included on the Baton Rouge diocese's list in early 2019. On the Corpus Christi diocese's list 1/31/2019. Left the diocese in 1971. On Galveston-Houston's list 1/31/2019. On the New Orleans archdiocese's list in 6/2019. Accused in a lawsuit filed in 6/2024 of sexually abusing a boy, age 12, in 1978. The boy and his family were parishioners of St. Gerard Majella in Baton Rouge.

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Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.