LA - New child sex case filed against Vatican & priest
- New child sex case filed against Vatican & priest
- He’s currently facing at least seven criminal charges
- Cleric spent time in New Orleans and Lake Charles
- Support group urges bishops to “reach out to victims”
WHAT:
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will:
--Disclose a new lawsuit being filed against an accused predator priest, the Vatican, two Louisiana dioceses and two bishops,
--Urge victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers to call police, and
--Beg Louisiana Catholic officials to “aggressively seek out” other victims.
WHEN:
Wednesday, February 20 at 2:00 pm
WHERE:
Outside the chancery (aka archdiocesan headquarters) 7887 Walmsley Ave (corner of Fern) in New Orleans
WHO:
The victim’s attorney and a clergy sex abuse who is the outreach director for the international support group SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY:
A clergy sex abuse lawsuit is being filed against a Catholic priest who attended a New Orleans seminary and mostly worked in the Lake Charles diocese. The alleged victim was abused between 1985-88 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven parish in Lake Charles and in 1992 at St. Eugene’s parish in Grand Chenier.
The New Orleans archdiocese and the Lake Charles diocese (along with the prelates who head each of them), and the Vatican are named as defendants in the 40 page civil suit filed in US district court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The priest, Fr. Mark A. Broussard, was arrested last April by the Calcasieu Parish sheriff’s office. He was indicted on two counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of oral sexual battery, two counts of aggravated rape, and one count of sexual battery. He is charged and indicted in both Calcacieu and Cameron parishes. (St. Eugene is in Cameron Parish.)
In 2011, Lake Charles Catholic officials reported to police that there was an abuse complaint about Fr. Broussard. That victim said Fr. Broussard abused him between 1986-1989 at St. Henry Parish in Lake Charles.
"My client thinks his story should be told to the public as a means of prevention and recovery,” said the victim’s attorney, Felecia Peavy of Houston (713-222-0205, [email protected]). "When these defendants considered Broussard's crimes in light of their reputations in the community, my client's safety and well-being registered as a zero."
Leaders of SNAP are applauding the victim for “doing his part to keep kids in Louisiana safer.”
“We are grateful to this courageous man for coming forward,” said Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director. “Publicly speaking up is the best way to inspire other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to get help, call police, protect kids and start healing.”
“We urge Bishop Glen John Provost to use all of his resources – his diocesan website, parish bulletins, and pulpit announcements – to find others in the Lake Charles area who may have been hurt by Fr. Broussard,” said Dorris. “Now is the time to shepherd his flock and do what he can to make kids safer and help victims heal.”
Fr. Broussard reportedly left the priesthood in 1994. He attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 2 comments
So far only to my knowledge have any higher level bishops etc been convicted except in Philadelphia, though there does appear that this is changing, think eg LA.