37 Baton Rouge-area Clergy Members on Diocese's Official Sex Abuse List: See Names, More
The Advocate
Name: John Berube Age: Died in 1998, age unknown Position: Missionary Order of Our Lady of La Salette priest Served where: St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales (1965), other church parishes in Canada (1970s) and Boston. Ordained: 1953 Date of abuse: 1965 Allegation received: 1965 Number of allegations: More than one Assignment at time of abuse: St. Theresa of Avila, Gonzales, LA Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Four men filed a lawsuit in 2003 that alleged Berube’s abuse in 1965. Removed from ministry: Remained a priest until his death. Action taken: Priestly service in Diocese of Baton Rouge was terminated in 1965. The La Salette Order was notified of the allegation and he was transferred to the supervision of the La Sallette Superior. Details: Four boys told their parents in 1965 that Berube had abused them. The parents reported the abuse to their parish priest and the Diocese of Baton Rouge sent Berube back to his missionary order of La Salette. But Berube remained in ministry, was the pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Gatineau, Quebec.
Name: Clarence Joseph Biggers Age: Died in 2009, age unknown Position: Marist Fathers (S.M.) Year of Ordination: 1950 Served where: St. Joseph, Paulina, LA Ordained: 1950 Estimated time of abuse: Between 1964 – 1967 Allegation received: 9/14/2000 Number of allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Joseph, Paulina, LA Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1967 under the direction of the Marist Order. Marist Order notified of allegations in 2000.
Name: Jody P. Blanchard Age: 65 Position: Jesuit priest Served where: Immaculate Conception Parish, Baton Rouge; St. Charles Borromeo Church, Grand Coteau, La.; Tulane Catholic Center, New Orleans; Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Houston Ordained: 1983 Estimated time of abuse: 1980s Allegation received: Unknown Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Included on list of priests with credible allegations of abuse released by Jesuits in late 2018 Removed from ministry: Left Jesuits in 1994 Current status: Public records list him as still living in Louisiana Details: The Jesuits said he faced one credible claim of abuse.
Name: Daniel Patrick Brady Age: Died in 1999 Position: Dominican Order (O.P.) Served where: Holy Ghost, Hammond, LA Ordained: 1948 Estimated time of abuse: Between 1961 – 1963 Allegation received: 2/11/1994 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: Holy Ghost, Hammond, LA Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1964. Victim was referred to Dominican Superior in 1994.
Name: Pierre Celestin Cambiaire Age: Died in 1955 at age 83 or 84 Position: Priest in Archdiocese of New Orleans Served where: St. George in Baton Rouge, St. Joseph in Grosse-Tete, St. Leon in Leonville, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cameron Ordained: 1898 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1910s Allegation received: 1917 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: 1917 Details: Cambiaire admitted to or was publicly accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1917 and was removed from ministry that same year, according to the archdiocese.
Name: Carmelo Ignatius Camenzuli Age: Died in 1998 Position: Extern Diocesan Priest for the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru Served where: St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Mark, Gonzales, LA Ordained: 1966 for Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru Estimated time of abuse: Early 1980s Allegation received: 5/18/2000 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge, LA Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1985.
Name: David William Chaloux Age: Died in 1990 Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: Chaplain at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison; St. Aloysius, Baton Rouge, LA; Chaplain at LA State Penitentiary, Angola, LA; Ascension of Our Lord, Donaldsonville, LA; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baton Rouge, LA (In Residence); St. Pius X, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Amant, LA; St. John the Evangelist, Plaquemine, LA; St. Joan of Arc, Bayou Pigeon, LA; St. John the Baptist, Brusly, LA Ordained: 1972 Estimated time of abuse: Mid -1970s Allegation received: 9/5/2018 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Aloysius, Baton Rouge, LA Removed from ministry: Laicized in 1986. Name: David Joseph Clark Age: Died, year unknown Position: Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.) Served where: Queen of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Prescott, AZ; All Saints, Ft. Worth, TX; Immaculate Conception, Yuma, AZ; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Alexandria, LA; St. Joseph, Monroe, LA; St. Anthony, Cottonport, LA; St. Joseph, Marksville, LA; St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA Ordained: 1954 Estimated time of abuse: Between 1964-1965 Allegation received: 12/15/2018 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA Removed from ministry: Reassigned by the Claretian Order and left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1965.
Name: James Preston Clement Age: Died in 2001 Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: St. John the Baptist, Edgard, LA; St. Francis de Sales, Houma, LA; St. Joseph, Grosse Tete, LA; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Amant, LA; St. Patrick, Baton Rouge, LA Ordained: 1945 Estimated time of abuse: 1960s Allegations received: 10/25/2005, 8/22/2018 Number of allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Amant, LA Removed from ministry: Retired from priesthood in 1988.
Name: John Coyne Age: Died in 1981 Position: Josephite Fathers (S.S.J.) Served where: St. Augustine, New Roads, LA Ordained: 1941 Estimated time of abuse: Between 1968 – 1972 Allegation received: 12/1/2002 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Augustine, New Roads, LA Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1977.
Name: Daniel M. Drinan Age: 70 Position: Claretian missionary priest Served where: Christ the King, LSU (1970s) Ordained: 1977 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1970s Date report received: 3/5/2003 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: Christ the King, Baton Rouge, LA Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Drinan left Baton Rouge in 1979, but was accused of inappropriate contact with a minor in 2002, when he was a priest in Texas. Drinan was removed from the Diocese of Austin after the 2002 incident of inappropriate contact with a minor. He was later arrested in 2012 after witnesses saw him masturbating on a plane. Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1979. Removed from ministry by Claretian Order in 2006. Current status: Public records list Drinan as living in California Details: Drinan left Baton Rouge in 1979. In 2002, Drinan was removed as a priest in Austin, Texas, after being accused of inappropriate behavior with a child and facing a misdemeanor assault charge. He led a drug rehab program in Nevada afterward, and then faced criminal charges in 2012 when multiple witnesses reported that he masturbated on a plane. He pleaded guilty to indecent exposure on a commercial aircraft and was required to go through two years of supervised probation and to pay a fine.
Name: Bryan James Fontenot Age: Unknown Position: Dominican Order (O.P.) Served where: St. Joseph, Ponchatoula, LA; Holy Ghost, Hammond, LA Ordained: 1981 Estimated time of abuse: 1983 Allegation received: 4/26/1984 Number of allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Joseph, Ponchatoula, LA Removed from ministry: Removed from Diocese of Baton Rouge and transferred to the supervision of the Dominican Superior in 1984. Current status: Removed from priestly ministry
Name: John Franklin Age: Deceased, but date of death unknown Position: Priest with Diocese of Savannah, Georgia who served in Baton Rouge and New Orleans area Served where: Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville; St. Gabriel Catholic Church in New Orleans Ordained: 1956 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1950s Allegation received: 1959 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: 1959 Details: Franklin admitted to or was publicly accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1959 and was removed from ministry that same year, according to the archdiocese. Further details about the allegation are unknown. The archdiocese says he is deceased.
Name: James Funnel Age: Unknown Position: None Served where: Student at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA Ordained: Not Applicable (Seminarian) Estimated time of abuse: Mid-to-Late 1970s Allegations received: 1/10/2012, 12/31/2013 and 4/6/2016 Number of allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: Youth Minister at St. Isidore the Farmer, Baker, LA Removed from ministry: Took leave of absence from Notre Dame Seminary in 1979 and did not return. He did not enter into priestly ministry. Details: A legal advertisement seeking information on Funnel in 2010 indicates he was a youth minister at St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge and a wrestling coach at Archbishop Rummel High School from 1979-1984.
Name: George David Gensler Age: Deceased (2016) Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: Our Lady of Mercy, Baton Rouge, LA (In Residence); Spiritual Director - St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory Diocesan Seminary, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Anthony of Padua, Darrow, LA Ordained: 1970 for the Diocese of Lafayette; Incardinated into the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1978 Estimated time of abuse: Late-1970s Allegations received: 2/6/1994 and 10/26/2018 Number of Allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Anthony of Padua, Darrow, LA Removed from ministry: Placed on administrative leave and permanently removed from ministry in 1994. Details: Gensler was sworn in as a Lafayette Police officer in 1973, according to The Advocate’s archives. Then-chief Roland Dart said at the time that Gensler would perform the normal duties of a police officer and felt he would be particularly useful in youth programs. It’s unclear how long he remained with the department or if he worked with kids there. He had previously been a New Orleans cop before he became an officer, the article said.
Name: Antonio Gonzales Age: Died in 2016 Position: Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) Served where: St. Margaret Queen of Scotland, Albany, LA Ordained: 1957 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s Allegation received: 6/2002 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Margaret Queen of Scotland, Albany, LA Removed from ministry: Laicized in 1987.
Name: Bryan Keith Gray Age: Unknown Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: St. Charles Borromeo, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Patrick, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Margaret Queen of Scotland, Albany, LA; Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (Student); St. Aloysius, Baton Rouge, LA Ordained: 1979 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1970s - 1980s Allegation received: 3/10/1992 Number of Allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Charles Borromeo, Baton Rouge, LA Removed from ministry: Placed on permanent leave and priestly faculties removed in 1992.
Name: Lawrence Hecker Age: 86 or 87 Position: Diocesan priest in Archdiocese of New Orleans Served where: St. Mary in New Roads; Christ the King in Terrytown; Holy Family in Luling; Holy Rosary in New Orleans ; Our Lady of Lourdes in New Orleans; St. Anthony in Luling; St. Bernadette in Houma; St. Charles Borromeo (in residence); St. Frances Cabrini; St. Francis Xavier in Metairie; St. Joseph in Gretna; St. Louise de Marillac in Arabi; St. Theresa of Child Jesus Ordained: 1958 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1960s, 1970s Allegation received: 1996 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: 2002 Current status: Public records say he still lives in Louisiana Details: The archdiocese of New Orleans said a credible accusation of abuse led to Hecker's removal from ministry in 2002. Further details are unknown.
Name: Rodrigue Alphonse Hemond Age: Deceased (1990) Position: Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.); Incardinated into the Archdiocese Galveston-Houston in 1978 Served where: West Warwick, Rhode Island; Hearst, Ontario, Canada; Cochrane, Ontario; Foleyet, Ontario; St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of Mercy, Baton Rouge, LA; Immaculate Conception, Scotlandville, LA; St. Pius X, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Charles Borromeo, Baton Rouge, LA; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Maringouin, LA Ordained: 1949 Estimated time of abuse: 1960s-1970s Allegations received: 12/11/1992, 5/15/2002 and 6/2002 Number of allegations: More than One Assignment at time of abuse: St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA Removed from ministry: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1968. Victims referred to La Salette Order.
Name: Gerard “Jerry” Howell Age: 79 Position: Extern priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans Served where: St. Francis de Sales Deaf Center, Baton Rouge; St. Pius X, Baton Rouge; Holy Trinity, New Orleans; Mater Dolorosa, New Orleans; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Westwego; Prince of Peace, Chalmette; St. Gerard, New Orleans; St. Henry, New Orleans; St. Lawrence the Martyr, Kenner; St. Peter and Paul, New Orleans Ordained: 1964 Estimated time of abuse: 1960s and 1970s; Baton Rouge Archdiocese: Late 1970s Allegation received: 1978; Baton Rouge Archdiocese: 3/14/2001 Assignment at time of abuse: St. Francis de Sales Deaf Center, Baton Rouge, LA Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Many of those who accused Howell of abuse over time were the children of deaf parents, as Howell had earned the trust of their parents. Attorney Richard Ducote represented multiple people who accused him of abuse. His brother, Rodney, was also a priest accused of abuse before his death. The Diocese of Baton Rouge said they do not have a file on Rodney Howell. Removed from ministry: Archdiocese of New Orleans said he was removed from ministry in 1980, but Advocate archives show that Howell and his brother were still administering sacraments in Baton Rouge in 1981. Action taken: Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1981 to return to Archdiocese of New Orleans. Removed from active ministry by Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1992 Current status: Public records show him as living in Texas. Details: Howell was appointed director of the New Orleans deaf apostolate in 1967 and moved in 1978 to help establish the St. Francis de Sales deaf center in Baton Rouge. Howell could communicate with sign language, was known for his generosity in helping deaf people find jobs and even drew praise from high-profile politicians like former Gov. Edwin Edwards and former Rep. Lindy Boggs, according to a 1976 issue of Deaf American magazine. But behind closed doors, he manipulated children into believing nobody could love them and sexually abused them, according to two of his survivors who have spoken to The Advocate.
Name: Michael Hurley Age: Died in 2005 at age 89 or 90 Position: Archdiocese of New Orleans priest Served where: St. Agnes Baton Rouge (1950s); Immaculate Conception Church in Marrero; St. Francis de Sales in Houma; St. Maurice; Sts. Peter and Paul Ordained: 1943 Estimated time of abuse: 1940s Allegation received: 1945 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: Left archdiocese of New Orleans in 1955 Details: Hurley admitted to or was publicly accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1945, according to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He left the archdiocese in 1955, although the archdiocese did not provide details on whether he was removed from ministry or went to another region at the time.
Name: Myles Joseph Kearney Age: Unknown Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Pastoral Assignments: Ascension of Our Lord, Donaldsonville, LA; St. Theresa of Avila, Gonzales, LA; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of Prompt Succor, White Castle, LA; St. Mark, Gonzales, LA; St. Francis de Sales, Baton Rouge, LA; Director of Deaf Apostolate, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Joseph, Grosse Tete, LA; St. John the Evangelist, Prairieville, LA; St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge, LA (In Residence); Chaplain at Woman's Hospital, Baton Rouge, LA; Chaplain at Columbia Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA; Immaculate Conception, Lakeland, LA; St. Jude the Apostle the Apostle, Baton Rouge, LA; Most Blessed Sacrament, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Anne, Sorrento, LA; St. Patrick, Baton Rouge, LA Ordained: 1971 Estimated time of abuse: Late-1980s Allegation received: 4/15/2002 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: St. John the Evangelist, Prairieville, LA Removed from ministry: Priestly faculties removed in 2002. Details: Kearney studied sign language and worked as the director/pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish, preaching to deaf and hearing populations. He told The Advocate in 1983 that Bishop Joseph Sullivan appointed him there. “I was scared when Bishop Sullivan asked me if I would accept being pastor at the Deaf Center, because I knew nothing about the handicap, but I wanted to do it,” Kearney said.
Name: Clyde Landry Age: Died in 2003 Position: Diocesan priest Served where: St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales (1980s), St. Joseph Cathedral, Holy Family, Port Allen, LA; St. George, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Aloysius, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Amant, LA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Francisville, LA; Villa Louis Martin home in New Mexico for treating pedophile priests; Norbertine Community in New Mexico Ordained: 1973 Number of allegations: More than one Estimated time of abuse: Between 1970s and 1980s Allegations received: 6/30/1998, 2002 and 2004 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Unknown Assignments at time of abuse: Holy Family, Port Allen, LA; St. George, Baton Rouge, LA; St Aloysius, Baton Rouge, LA; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Francisville, LA Removed from ministry: Resigned from Pastorate 1988 and placed on leave. Left Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1990 to work for the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Formal leave granted and priestly faculties removed in 1999. Details: After Landry left Baton Rouge, he was the co-director of “aftercare” at the infamous Villa Louis Martin home to rehab pedophile priests in New Mexico. One 1990 document on the Bishop Accountability website about a priest’s progress at the home includes several notes from Landry about how the priest was doing. Landry later worked at the Norbertine Community in New Mexico, known for its retreats, and was the editor of the Norbertine Community news, according to an obituary for him. He was no longer listed as a priest at the time of his death.
Name: Ralph Lawrence Age: Died in 1992 at age 101 or 102 Position: Archdiocese of New Orleans priest Served where: St. Anthony of Padua, Baton Rouge (1916-1935), Mater Dolorosa, New Orleans; Our Lady of Good Harbor, Buras; Our Lady of Lourdes, Winnfield; Sacred Heart Church, Rayville Ordained: 1916 Estimated time of abuse: Early 1930s Allegation received: 1935 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: Took “leave of absence” in 1935 Details: Lawrence admitted or was publicly accused of sexually abusing a minor, according to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Further details about the allegation are unknown.
Name: Joseph LeFrois Age: Died in 1992 Position: Josephite priest Served where: Immaculate Conception, Plaquemine, LA Ordained: 1944 Estimated time of abuse: Mid-1950s Allegation received: September 6, 1994 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: Immaculate Conception Plaquemine Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: unknown Removed from ministry: Diocese of Baton Rouge notified Josephite Order of allegations, which came after LeFrois’ death Details: Unknown
Name: Daniel P. Lemoine Age: 60s Position: Diocesan priest Served where: Seminarian Summer Internship at St. Philomena, Labadieville; LA Deacon Internship at St. Joseph the Worker, Pierre Part, LA; St. Jean Vianney, Baton Rouge, LA; Holy Family, Port Allen, LA (In Residence); Our Lady of Prompt Succor, White Castle, LA; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baton Rouge, LA; Immaculate Conception, Denham Springs, LA; St. Joseph the Worker, Pierre Part, LA; Our Lady of Mercy, Baton Rouge, LA (In Residence); Chaplain at Baton Rouge General Hospital, Baton Rouge in 1990s; LA Chaplain at Earl K. Long Hospital, Baton Rouge; LA Chaplain at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic High School Ordained: 1979 Estimated time of abuse: Between late 1970s to early 1980s Allegations received: October 1994, April 1999, April 2007 Number of allegations: More than one Assignments at time of abuse: Our Lady of Mercy, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Joseph the Worker, Pierre Part, LA; St. Philomena, Labadieville, LA Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: A lawsuit was filed in 1999 that alleged abuse from him. Lemoine, nor the victim, were ever publicly named in the sealed lawsuit, but WAFB and WBRZ cited anonymous sources and named Lemoine as the subject of it. The diocese settled the lawsuit in 2002. Removed from ministry: 2002 Action taken: Placed on administrative leave in 1994. Priestly faculties removed in 1999. Current status: Public records list him as still living in Baton Rouge Details: When a lawsuit was filed related to Lemoine in 1999, the plaintiff’s attorney said it was about a Baton Rouge priest’s sexual misconduct with a teenage boy during the 1990s. When the diocese settled the lawsuit, they said the priest either had been or would be removed from ministry.
Name: Nicholas Joseph Martrain Age: Unknown Position: Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: St. Isidore the Farmer, Baker, LA; Ascension of Our Lord, Donaldsonville, LA; St. Pius X, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Patrick, Baton Rouge, LA Ordained: 1965 Estimated time of abuse: Prior to 1980 Allegation received: May 2, 2002 Number of Allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: Ascension of Our Lord, Donaldsonville, LA Removed from ministry: Left active ministry in 1982. Married and priestly faculties removed in 1983. Laicized in 1990.
Name: Salvador Nickie (Butch) Moran Age: Unknown Position: Priest in Diocese of Baton Rouge Served where: St. Theresa of Avila, St. Joseph the Worker in Pierre Part, Ascension of Our Lord in Donaldsonville, St. Philip in Vacherie, St. Joseph Cathedral Prep Diocesan Seminary faculty Ordained: 1972 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1970s, early 1980s Allegation received: October 1994 and January 2004 Number of allegations: Multiple Assignment at time of abuse: St. Joseph in Pierre Part, St. Philip in Vacherie Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: unknown Removed from ministry: Placed on administrative leave in 1994, priestly faculties removed the same year Current status: No longer in ministry Details: Unknown
Name: Thomas J. Naughton Age: Died in 2012 at age 79 Position: Jesuit priest Served where: Manresa House of Retreats in Convent, La. (1980s)’ Jesuit High School New Orleans; St. Johns Co-Cathedral Shreveport; Jesuit High School El Paso; Jesuit High School Tampa; Jesuit College Prep Dallas; Strake Jesuit College Prep Houston; Montserrat Retreat House Dallas; St. Killian Parish, Mission Viejo California Ordained: 1965 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s Allegation received: 2002 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Included on list of priests with credible allegations of abuse released by Jesuits in late 2018 Removed from ministry: Left Jesuits in 2009 Details: Naughton was removed from his post in 2002 at St. Killian Parish in Mission Viejo, California, after allegations became public that he molested a boy in 1978 at Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, according to the Dallas Morning News. Naughton was the president of the school from 1973 to 1978. He was the director of the Manresa House of Retreats in Convent from 1983 to 1989, according to Bishop Accountability. The Jesuit order cautioned people not to confuse him with a religious brother of the same name.
Name: Henry Neubig Age: Died in 1975 Position: Diocesan priest Served where: St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales, St. Joan of Arc in Bayou Pigeon, Immaculate Conception in Lakeland, Our Lady of Lourdes in New Orleans, St. Francis de Sales in New Orleans Ordained: 1934 in Archdiocese of New Orleans, became Baton Rouge priest once diocese was created in 1961 Number of allegations: One Estimated time of abuse: Mid-1950s Assignment at time of abuse: Immaculate Conception, Lakeland Allegation received: August 17, 2007 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: unknown Removed from ministry: Allegation received after his death Details: Unknown
Name: C. Richard Nowery Age: Died in 2018 Position: Congregation of Holy Cross priest Served where: St. Jude the Apostle Ordained: 1968 Estimated time of abuse: unknown Allegation received: unknown Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: unknown Removed from ministry: unknown Details: unknown
Name: Jesse R. Ortego Age: Unknown Position: Diocesan priest Served where: St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge; St. Theresa in Gonzales; Holy Family in Port Allen; Holy Rosary in St. Amant; St. Anne in Sorrento Ordained: 1970 Estimated time of abuse: Early 1970s Allegation received: August 2008 Number of allegations: One Assignment at time of abuse: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Unknown Removed from ministry: Left diocese of Baton Rouge in 1981, no longer in priestly ministry Current status: Unknown Details: Ortego was born in Port Arthur, Texas but attended elementary school in Louisiana before returning to Texas to complete high school. He later attended Tulane University and graduated from twice from LSU with a bachelor’s and master’s in science in 1961 and 1963. He attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
Name: Joseph Pelletieri, C.S.s.R. Age: Died in 2018 at 79 Position: Redemptorist order priest Served where: St. Gerard Majella; Immaculate Heart of Mary in Crowley, LA; Principal of Notre Dame Catholic High School from 1971-1972; Ave Maria Retreat House in Crown Point, LA. Ordained: 1965 Estimated time of abuse: Mid to late 1960s Allegation received: Early 2000s Number of allegations received: One known Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Per a 2014 Advocate report, a lawsuit was filed in 2003 by the son of a janitor at Notre Dame Catholic High School alleging Pelletieri molested him between the ages of 11 and 14. The lawsuit claimed Pelletieri used hypnosis and post-hypnotic suggestion to coerce the boy into inappropriate sexual behavior. The lawsuit was dismissed because the court determined the statute of limitations had passed. Removed from ministry: Conflicting reports state Pelletieri was suspended alternately by either Archbishop Alfred Hughes or the Redemptorist order following the revelation of details in the 2003 lawsuit.
Name: Cristoff Joseph Springer, also known as Christopher Springer Age: In his 90s Position: Diocesan priest, Redemptorist priest beforehand Served where: St. Pius X in Baton Rouge, St. Gerard Majella in Baton Rouge; St. Mary’s of False River, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Maringouin, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Jackson, Our Lady of the Assumption in Clinton, St. John the Evangelist in Plaquemine, chaplain at East Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson, chaplain at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, chaplain at Feliciana Forensic Unit in Jackson Ordained: 1952 Estimated time of abuse: 1960s-1980s Allegation received: Feb. 9, 1981; July 21, 1992; April 6, 1993; March 15, 1994 Number of allegations: Multiple Assignments at time of abuse: St. Pius X, St. Mary of False River, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of the Assumption Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Springer has been accused by at least 30 people in lawsuits of molesting them as children. The lawsuits filed related to his abuse stretch back to at least 2003. The diocese has settled them. Removed from ministry: Removed from ministry in 1985, laicized in 1990 Current status: Springer is believed to still be alive. Public records list him as living in Pearl River, La. Details: Springer left the Redemptorists in 1973 to become a diocesan priest in Baton Rouge. It’s unclear why he made the switch. But at least 30 separate people have filed lawsuits alleging that he abused them during his time in both Louisiana and Texas. The lawyer who represented those victims estimated that Springer abused far more, as well. Springer wrote in a 2009 affidavit that in 1984, former Baton Rouge Bishop Stanley Ott recommended he go to a home for troubled priests. He was removed from ministry in 1985 and laicized in 1990.
Name: Malcolm Strassel Age: Died in 1987 at age 79 Position: Priest in Archdiocese of New Orleans Served where: St. Agnes in Baton Rouge (1930s); Holy Rosary in St. Amant; St. Charles Borromeo in Destrehan; St. Joseph in Gretna; St. Mary Nativity in Raceland; Sacred Heart in LaCombe; Our Lady of Lourdes in New Orleans Ordained: 1934 Estimated time of abuse: Late 1960s, early 1970s Allegation received: 2006 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: One lawsuit filed in 2009 accused Strassel of fondling a boy while he was at Our Lady of Lourdes in uptown, New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans settled the suit. Removed from ministry: Died before allegations of abuse Details: A 2009 lawsuit accused Strassel of fondling a boy while working at Our Lady of Lourdes in Uptown New Orleans between 1969 and 1971. The Archdiocese settled the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorney said. The attorney alleged that the statute of limitations had not lapsed in the case because the traumatized victim had suppressed memory of the abuse and the church had worked to cover it up.
Name: Joseph Vincent Sullivan Age: Died in 1982 at age 62 Position: Bishop of Baton Rouge from 1974-1982 Served where: Previously auxiliary bishop in Diocese of Kansas City, Missouri and a priest there until his assignment in Baton Rouge Ordained: 1946 Estimated time of abuse: 1969-1982 Allegation received: 2004 Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Three lawsuits filed between 2004 and 2007, in which three men said Sullivan abused them when they were minors. The diocese settled the lawsuits and changed the name of Bishop Sullivan High School to St. Michael the ArchAngel High school. Removed from ministry: Sullivan remained in ministry until death Details: While Sullivan presented himself as an unyielding follower of church doctrine, at least three people accused him of privately breaking other tenets of the faith, in which priests take vows of celibacy and promise to protect and shepherd children toward God. One of his three accusers said he abused him at a now-closed Baton Rouge seminary for minors in the 1970s, called St. Joseph Cathedral Prep. Others said Sullivan abused them during his annual vacations to Hawaii.
Name: John A. Weber Age: Died in 2000 at age 81 Position: Priest in Diocese of Baton Rouge, Archdiocese of New Orleans Served where: St. Isidore the Farmer in Baker (1960s); St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales; Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Plattenville; Holy Trinity in New Orleans; St. Ann in Morganza; St. Eloi in Theriot; St. Rita in New Orleans Ordained: 1945 Estimated time of abuse: 1940s Assignment at time of abuse: Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, Plattenville Number of allegations: Unclear Date of abuse: 1956 Allegation received: Diocese of Baton Rouge reported an allegation received in 1996. Archdiocese of New Orleans also reported an allegation received in 2005. Lawsuits filed/previous known allegations: Name included on list that Archdiocese of New Orleans released in late 2018 Removed from ministry: Weber retired in 1995, the year before his first allegation of abuse. Details: Weber transferred to the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1961, when the diocese was created. Both the Diocese of Baton Rouge and Archdiocese of New Orleans have reported allegations against him.
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