Scandals involving sexual abuse by priests have rocked the Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Baton Rouge is no exception. At least 24 priests have been credibly accused of sexual abuse within the Diocese of Baton Rouge. This number includes priests incardinated into the Diocese and extern priests or members of religious orders who served in the Diocese.
Regrettably, the list will most likely grow, and we will add new perpetrators when they are credibly accused.
If any priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge assaulted or harmed you, you are not alone. Lamothe Law Firm is dedicated to representing survivors of abuse. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation—we can help you understand your legal options and seek justice.
John Joseph Berube
John Joseph Berube was a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Salette (M.S.) and was ordained in 1953. He was assigned to St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales, LA, where he was accused of more than one instance of sexual abuse in 1965. Berube’s priestly service in the Diocese of Baton Rouge was terminated in 1965, and the La Salette Order was notified of the allegations. He was transferred to the supervision of the La Salette Superior. Berube died in 1998.
Clarence Joseph Biggers
Clarence Joseph Biggers was a member of the Marist Fathers (S.M.) and was ordained in 1950. He was assigned to St. Joseph in Paulina, LA, and was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse between 1964 and 1967. Biggers left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1967 under the direction of the Marist Order. The Order was notified of the allegations in 2000. Biggers died in 2009.
Daniel Patrick Brady
Daniel Patrick Brady, ordained in 1948, was a member of the Dominican Order (O.P.). He served at Holy Ghost, Hammond, LA, where he was accused of one allegation of sexual abuse of a minor between 1961 and 1963, and the report was received on February 11, 1994. Brady left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1964, and the victim was referred to the Dominican Superior in 1994. Brady died in 1999.
Carmelo Ignatius Camenzuli
Carmelo Ignatius Camenzuli, ordained in 1966, was an Extern Diocesan Priest for the Archdiocese of Arequipa, Peru. He was accused of sexual abuse in the early 1980s at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, LA. Camenzuli left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1985 and died in 1998.
David William Chaloux
David William Chaloux was a priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, ordained in 1972. He served at multiple locations throughout Louisiana. He was accused of one instance of abuse during the mid-1970s while serving at St. Aloysius in Baton Rouge. Chaloux was laicized in 1986 and died in 1990.
David Joseph Clark
David Joseph Clark was a Claretian Missionary ordained in 1954. He served at nine parishes in California, Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana. He was accused of one instance of abuse that occurred between 1964 and 1965 while serving at St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge. Clark was reassigned by the Claretian Order and left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1965. He died sometime in the 2000s.
James Preston Clement
James Preston Clement was ordained in 1945 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the 1960s at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant, LA. Clement retired from the priesthood in 1988 and died in 2001.
John J. Coyne
John Coyne was a member of the Josephite Fathers (S.S.J.) and was ordained in 1941. He was accused of sexual abuse between 1968 and 1972 at St. Augustine in New Roads, LA. Coyne left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1977 and died in 1981.
Daniel Michael Drinan
Daniel Michael Drinan was a member of the Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.) and was ordained in 1977. He was accused of sexual abuse in the late 1970s at Christ the King in Baton Rouge, LA. Drinan left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1979. The Claretian Order removed him from ministry in 2006.
Bryan James Fontenot
Bryan James Fontenot was a member of the Dominican Order (O.P.) and was ordained in 1981. He served at St. Joseph, Ponchatoula, LA, and Holy Ghost, Hammond, LA. More than one allegation of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult was made against Fontenot. The abuse occurred at St. Joseph, Ponchatoula, LA, in 1983. The Diocese of Baton Rouge received reports of the abuse on April 26, 1984. Fontenot was removed from the Diocese of Baton Rouge and transferred to the supervision of the Dominican Superior in 1984. He was removed from priestly ministry.
James R. Funnell
James R. Funnell was a seminarian at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA, but was not ordained. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the mid-to-late 1970s as a youth minister at St. Isidore the Farmer in Baker, LA. Funnell took a leave of absence from Notre Dame Seminary in 1979 and did not return. He did not enter into priestly ministry.
George David Gensler
George David Gensler was ordained in 1970 for the Diocese of Lafayette and incardinated into the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1978. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the late 1970s and between 1984 and 1998 at St. Anthony of Padua in Darrow, LA. The Diocese of Baton Rouge received separate reports of the abuse on February 6, 1994, October 26, 2018, February 5, 2020, and February 7, 2020. Gensler was placed on administrative leave and permanently removed from ministry in 1994. He died in 2016.
Antonio Hernandez Gonzales
Antonio Hernandez Gonzales was a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) and was ordained in 1957. He was assigned to St. Margaret Queen of Scotland in Albany, LA, and was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the 1970s. Gonzales was laicized in 1987 and died in 2016.
Bryan Keith Gray
Bryan Keith Gray was ordained in 1979 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the late 1970s and 1980s at St. Charles Borromeo in Baton Rouge, LA. Gray was placed on permanent leave, and his priestly faculties were removed in 1992. He died in 2020.
Rodrigue Alphonse Hemond
Rodrigue Alphonse Hemond was a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.) and was ordained in 1949. He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 1978. Hemond was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the 1960s and 1970s at St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge, LA. He left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1968, and the La Salette Order was notified of the allegations. Hemond died in 1990.
Gerard Joseph Howell
Gerard Joseph Howell was an extern diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He was ordained in 1964 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Howell served at St. Francis de Sales Deaf Center and St. Francis de Sales in Baton Rouge, LA. One allegation of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult was made against him. The abuse occurred at the St. Francis de Sales Deaf Center in the late 1970s. The Diocese of Baton Rouge received the report of the abuse on March 14, 2001. Howell left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1981 to return to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans removed him from active ministry in 1992. Howell was removed from priestly ministry.
Myles Joseph Kearney
Myles Joseph Kearney was ordained in 1971 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the late 1980s at St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville, LA. Kearney’s priestly faculties were removed in 2002.
Clyde Bernard Landry
Clyde Bernard Landry was ordained in 1973 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse between the 1970s and 1980s at several locations. Landry resigned from the pastorate in 1988 and was placed on leave. He left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1990 to work for the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Formal leave was granted, and his priestly faculties were removed in 1999. Landry died in 2003.
Daniel Paul Lemoine
Daniel Paul Lemoine was ordained in 1979 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He held various pastoral assignments within the Diocese, including hospital chaplain positions. Lemoine was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse between the late 1970s and early 1980s at multiple locations. He was placed on administrative leave in 1994, and his priestly faculties were removed in 1999. Lemoine was laicized in 2021.
Nicholas Joseph Martrain
Nicholas Joseph Martrain was ordained in 1965 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of sexual abuse before 1980 at Ascension of Our Lord in Donaldsonville, LA. Martrain left active ministry in 1982. He married, and his priestly faculties were removed in 1983. Martrain was laicized in 1990.
Salvador Nickie (Butch) Moran
Salvador Nickie (Butch) Moran was ordained in 1972 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s at St. Joseph the Worker in Pierre Part, LA, and St. Philip in Vacherie, LA. Moran was placed on administrative leave, and his priestly faculties were removed in 1994. He was laicized in 2021.
Jesse Ray Ortego
Jesse Ray Ortego was ordained in 1970 for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He was accused of sexual abuse in the early 1970s at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant, LA. Ortego left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1981 and died in 2015.
Christopher Joseph Springer
Christopher Joseph Springer was ordained in 1952 for the Redemptorist Order and incardinated into the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1973. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse between the 1970s and 1980s at St. Pius X, Baton Rouge, LA; St. Mary of False River, New Roads, LA; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Jackson, LA; and Our Lady of the Assumption, Clinton, LA. Springer’s priestly faculties were removed in 1985, and he was laicized in 1990.
Joseph Vincent Sullivan
Joseph Vincent Sullivan was ordained in 1946 for the Diocese of Kansas City, Missouri, and was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1974. He was accused of multiple instances of sexual abuse between 1974 and 1982. The Diocese publicly announced the allegations in 2004 and changed the name of Bishop Sullivan High School to St. Michael the Archangel High School. Sullivan died in 1982.
