SNAP Calls on Church Officials in Houma-Thibodaux to Include Fr. Brian Highfill on Credibly Accused Priests List

Leaders of SNAP in Louisiana are calling out the Houma-Thibodaux bishop for failing to live up to the standards laid out by the USCCB and for choosing secrecy over transparency in the case of an accused abusive priest.

Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is refusing to add Fr. Brian Highfill to his list of accused priests, despite the fact that the priest has been acknowledged as an abuser by both the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Las Vegas. According to reports, Bishop Fabre is declining to include Fr. Highfill “after careful consideration.” SNAP is calling on Bishop Fabre to explain exactly what criteria went into his “careful consideration” and why those criteria outweigh the personal testimony of multiple victims of Fr. Highfill who have come forward with reports.

SNAP is asking that Bishop Fabre “be part of the solution to this never-ending clergy sex abuse scandal” and add the name of Fr. Highfill to his list immediately. SNAP leaders in Louisiana are also calling for a meeting with Catholic officials from Houma-Thibodaux to discuss this decision and the concerns from other survivors who were abused within the diocese. The formal request to Bishop Fabre was sent on September 15.

CONTACT: Kevin Bourgeois, SNAP New Orleans ([email protected], 504-376-5445), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)


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  • francis comeaux
    commented 2020-09-28 18:27:15 -0500
    …can’t wait for that meeting; all Bishops must be called to order!

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