Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Latest
Louisiana priest sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to rape of teenage boy
Lawrence Hecker had pleaded guilty earlier this month to the kidnapping and raping of his teenage victim in the 1970s. Read more
New Orleans priest pleads guilty to 1970s kidnapping, rape of teenager
Father Lawrence Hecker’s trial was repeatedly delayed this year amid Hecker’s ill health and uncertainty over his mental competency to... Read more
Archdiocese of New Orleans will release personnel files of clergy accused of sex abuse
On Thursday the archdiocese said in an announcement that it had agreed to “nonmonetary plan provisions to be included in... Read more
Archdiocese of New Orleans offers $62 million abuse settlement; survivors ask for $1 billion
The archdiocesan proposal is considerably less than the roughly $1 billion proposed by survivors of clergy abuse. Read more
Archdiocese of New Orleans suspected of child sex trafficking, warrant shows
The affidavit requesting the warrant alleges that multiple victims claim they were transported to parishes and out of state, where... Read more
Louisiana police obtain new search warrant in New Orleans Archdiocese abuse investigation
A police spokesman confirmed that they obtained the warrant as part of the investigation into “numerous complaints of child sexual... Read more
Prosecutor vows to try ‘on a gurney’ 92-year-old Louisiana priest accused of rape
Lawrence Hecker was indicted on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, an aggravated crime against nature, and theft in September... Read more
‘Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive’: New Orleans Saints owner funds new Catholic school
Gayle Benson concluded her monthly giving in December with a large donation to Good Shepherd School, which serves inner-city children... Read more
New Orleans Archdiocese to close 10% of parishes, merge others
This consolidation is the archdiocese's largest restructuring plan since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Read more
New Orleans Archdiocese says parishes will be asked to help pay for clergy abuse settlements
Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced that parishes, schools, and ministries will have to help pay out the archdiocese’s clergy abuse claims. Read more
91-year-old ex-priest indicted in New Orleans for alleged rape of boy in 1970s
Lawrence Hecker was indicted on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, an aggravated crime against nature, and theft by a... Read more
New Orleans priest pleads guilty to two child molestation charges
Father Patrick Wattigny, 55, a former pastor and chaplain in Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced to five years in prison. Read more
Former New Orleans priest gets 25 years on sexual assault and rape charges
The former priest would meet his victims in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans, specifically targeting intoxicated men or... Read more
New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Cheri dies at 71 after lengthy illness
Bishop Fernand Joseph Cheri III, OFM, who served since 2015 as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, died March 21 at... Read more
Former parish employee identified as second victim of Louisiana double homicide
Ruth Prats, 73, worked for Father Otis Young when he was pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington, Louisiana. Read more
Louisiana priest confirmed as victim in double homicide, archbishop offers prayers
Father Otis Young, 71, who retired in July, was pastor for approximately 10 years at St. Peter Catholic Church in... Read more
Disgraced Louisiana priest pleads guilty to filming pornographic material on parish altar
Travis Clark pled guilt to a felony count of obscenity for his actions at a Catholic church in Pearl River,... Read more
New Orleans priest facing rape charges also accused of embezzling $400,000
A suspended Archdiocese of New Orleans priest who is facing rape charges could now be facing additional federal charges for... Read more
New Orleans priest arrested again on sexual abuse of minor charge
Father Patrick Wattigny, 55, was originally arrested in October 2020 and entered a plea of not guilty to molestation of... Read more
FBI probe could help prosecute Louisiana priests accused of inter-state sex abuse
Federal authorities are investigating alleged sex abuse of minors by New Orleans-area Catholic clergy, sometimes going back decades, on the... Read more
