Diocese of Shreveport ACCUSED PRIESTS
Child sexual abuse is prevalent and has been happening for decades in the Roman Catholic Church dioceses around the globe. Unfortunately, many dioceses cover up the abuse to protect the Church’s reputation, thereby allowing the heinous crimes to continue without consequences, putting innocent children at risk.
In November 2018, the Diocese of Shreveport released a statement regarding sexual abuse allegations associated with the Diocese of Alexandria. This particular diocese used to include the territory that the Diocese of Shreveport now covers. As of November 2018, there hadn’t been an allegation of child sexual abuse by a clergy member since the creation of the Diocese of Shreveport in June 1986.
However, in July 2020, a child survivor stepped forward, filing a lawsuit against the Diocese of Shreveport, accusing one late priest and a person who lived with him in the rectory on the Church campus of sexual assault. These allegations date back to before the Diocese of Shreveport started, but the Church that the priest served in now falls under its territory.
When the Diocese of Alexandria released the names of priests accused of sexual abuse of minors, the Diocese of Shreveport also published the list and asked anyone in its new jurisdiction to come forward with their allegations if they suffered sexual abuse by any clergy on the list.
In May 2021, an associate priest at a church in the Diocese of Shreveport found himself removed from the ministry after allegations surfaced against him asserting child sexual abuse accusations and his violation of the Diocese of Shreveport’s Policy Concerning Sexual Abuse of Minors. The Diocese of Shreveport released a statement concerning the allegations against the priest, explaining that his conduct didn’t involve physical contact with minors, but his actions still constituted a serious violation of the law.
Given the Diocese of Shreveport’s quick response to the associate priest’s allegations and its transparency with the priests credibly accused in the Diocese of Alexandria, it’s clear that the institution is doing everything to promote a safe environment for children and teens. The Diocese must protect the minors entrusted to its care and ensure that victims have the opportunity to speak with Church leaders to tell their story and heal.
The Diocese of Shreveport includes a page on its website about its Safe Environment Compliance and its obedience to the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. The Diocese also includes its own policy concerning sexual abuse of minors and devotes a page of instructions and information on reporting abuse by clergy members.
In addition to the Diocese’s individual efforts to call attention to and combat child sexual abuse, new Louisiana legislation will go into effect on August 1, 2021, changing the deadline to file child sex abuse claims in civil court. The new law deviates from the current deadline of the victim’s 28th birthday to allow a three-year window for survivors to file any unresolved child sex abuse claims in civil court, no matter how old the victim is at present or when the abuse occurred.
With the creation of the Diocese of Shreveport only 35 years ago, a heavy overlap of priests who served in both dioceses or who served in the Diocese of Alexandria but would now fall into the new Diocese’s territory can make filing your civil suit complicated. A sexual abuse attorney can help make the process seamless so that you can take full advantage of the new legislation happening soon. We know it can be challenging to take that next step, dredging up old, painful memories, but you deserve long-overdue justice, and compensation can help aid in your continued recovery.
Contacting a child sexual abuse attorney is the first step in the right direction to hold your abuser accountable for their actions. Also, doing so can help you move forward with the closure you need and ensure that other children can avoid similar harm. Contact the compassionate and determined lawyers at Herman Law today to learn about your legal rights and how our team can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
St. Theresa in Shreveport and St. Lucy in Hodge. Allegations of sexual abuse of a boy dating to 1973 was brought before a Permanent Review Board in 2005. Allen resigned from the ministry in 2005 and a settlement with the victim was made in 2012. Allen died in 2018.
Our Lady of Fatima in Monroe and Christ the King in Bossier City. An allegation of sexual abuse of a boy dating back to 1961 was brought before the review board in 2004. Allison died in 1986.
St. Catherine of Siena in Shreveport. Multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys and girls dating back to the 1960s were brought before the review board in 2004 and 2005. Bressler died in 1990. Settlements were made with victims in 2006 and 2017.
Christ the King in Bossier City and St. Lucy in Hodge. Allegations of sexual abuse of girls dating back to 1956 was brought before the review board in 2004. Conway died in 1996. Settlements were paid to victims in 2005 and 2017.
St. Francis Sanitarium in Monroe, Sacred Heart in Rayville and Sacred Heart in Springhill. Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of boys dating back to the 1950s. Couvillion died in 1978.
Holy Rosary in Shreveport, St. Matthew in Monroe and Little Flower of Jesus in Monroe. Evidence of multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating from the 1960s. Donohoe resigned as a pastor and was removed from active ministry in 1966. He died in 1983.
Christ the King in Bossier City and St. Margaret in Homer. Fortier’s file showed an allegation of sexual abuse of a boy dating back to 1954. An allegation of sexual abuse of a boy was made in 1994. A settlement was made with the victim in 1995. Fortier died in 1999.
Holy Trinity in Shreveport. An allegation of sexual abuse of a boy dating back to 1966 was brought before the review board in 2004. A settlement was made with the victim in 2005. Franklin left the diocese in 1973 and died in Alabama in 1986. A review of Franklin’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors.
St. Joseph in Zwolle. An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a boy dating back to 1954 was brought before the review board in 2004. Friend died 1977. A settlement was made with the victim in 2005.
Holy Trinity in Shreveport, St. John the Baptist in Many, St. Matthew in Monroe, Sacred Heart in Rayville and St. Clement in Vivian. Multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating from the 1960s. Gremillion retired in 1969 and died in 1973.
St. Joseph in Monroe and St. Matthew in Monroe. Multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating from the 1960s. Hannon left the diocese in 1963, was placed under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1982 and died in 2000.
Christ the King in Bossier City. Multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating back to the 1980s. Mathews left active ministry on a leave of absence in 1998 and died in 2008.
St. Catherine of Siena in Shreveport. Allegation of sexual abuse of a boy dating back to 1962 was brought before the review board in 2004. Rogers was removed from active ministry in 1967 and permanently dismissed in 1974. His file also showed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of minors. Rogers was born in 1930 and his whereabouts are unknown to church officials.
St. Clement in Vivian. An allegation of sexual abuse of a boy dating back to 1945. Senesac was removed from active ministry and died in 1966.
St. Catherine of Siena in Shreveport. Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of boys dating back to the 1960s. Sepsi left the active ministry in 1967. Sepsi was born in 1930 and his whereabouts are unknown.
St. Joseph in Shreveport. Allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating back to the 1960s were brought before the review board in 2009. Teacle died in 1969. A review of Teacle’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct and abuse of boys.
Holy Rosary in Shreveport and St. Joseph in Mansfield. Allegations of sexual abuse of boys dating back to the 1950s and 1960s were brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2003 and 2005. Tremblay died in 2002. Settlements with victims were made in 2004 and 2005. Further review of Tremblay’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct.
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