Two New Allegations Added against Ascension Priest Once Known As Crusading Priest-cop

By Jacqueline DeRobertis
The Advocate
July 1, 2020

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_99ff5744-bbf5-11ea-a30b-17f8ca609153.html

A deceased Catholic priest formerly accused of abuse in Ascension Parish has two new credible allegations added in the latest Baton Rouge Diocese report.

The list now includes more information regarding The Rev. George Gensler, who is accused of abuse in the late 1970s and between 1984 and 1998, said Diocese of Baton Rouge Communications Secretary Dan Borne.

Reports of abuse were received in February 1994 and October 2018, but two new credible allegations were reported days apart in February 2020, he said.

Past abuse was reported at St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow, where Gensler served from 1979 to 1994; he was placed on administrative leave and permanently removed from ministry during his last year at the church.

It is unclear if the new reports involve St. Anthony or another pastoral assignment.

Gensler also served at Our Lady of Mercy in Baton Rouge and as a spiritual director at St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory Diocesan Seminary, where he would have interacted with teenage boys.

He even served as the FBI Chaplain at the FBI New Orleans Field Office, according to FBI spokesman Craig Betbeze.

Borne said all known or suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult should be reported immediately to local law enforcement or to the Department of Children and Family Services at (855) 452-5437.

Allegations of abuse involving clergy or other representatives of the Church should also be reported to Amy Cordon, the Diocesan victim assistance coordinator, at (225) 242-0250.

Staff writer Andrea Gallo contributed to this report.