More sad and unacceptable news within the Archdiocese of New Orleans

 

8 friars who served in Archdiocese of New Orleans accused of abuse

NEW ORLEANS —

Eight friars who served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans have been accused of abuse.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the Archdiocese, the Franciscan Friars of the St. John the Baptist Province this week released a list of friars with substantiated abuse allegations against them.

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The archdiocese released a list of clergy members credibly accused of abuse -- allegations that in most cases involved sexual misconduct with minors -- in November 2018. That list has been updated several times since it was originally published to add new names.

Some of the additions were based on similar lists published by other dioceses and religious orders, like the new report from the Franciscans, according to the Archdiocese. Names on other lists referred to priests or other clergy members who at one time worked in the New Orleans area.

As a result of the Franciscan’s audit, the following friars were determined to have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor while ministering within the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the archdiocese said:

1. Frank Davied, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 4, 1976, left the Order.
2. Fr. Alfred Pimple, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 11, 1938, deceased (Pimple was included in the 2018 Clergy Abuse Report).

The following friars, who ministered for a time within the Archdiocese of New Orleans, were determined to have substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor while ministering outside the archdiocese:

1. Fr. Ray Chappa, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 7, 1975, left the Order / laicized.
2. Fr. Barry (Finbar) Coyle, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 13, 1958, deceased.
3. Fr. Joachim Lux, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 13, 1961, deceased.
4. Fr. Carter Partee, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 5, 1947, left the Order / removed from ministry / deceased.
5. Fr. Juvenal Pfalzer, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 12, 1942, deceased.
6. Fr. Randolph Thompson, Order of Friars Minor, ordained June 4, 1948, deceased.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is currently reviewing its priest personnel files and in communications with the Franciscans to obtain more information, the statement says.

The Archdiocese said once the process is complete, these names will be added to the credibly accused “Clergy List” at nolacatholic.org.

A local survivor advocacy group, SNAP, or Survivors of those Abused by Priests, said the addition of the names to the Archdiocese of New Orleans "Clergy List" criticized the organization for its failure to add the names sooner. A statement from the group called Wednesday's announcement a "long overdue move that speaks to the need for intervention from secular law enforcement to get to the bottom of what has really gone on in New Orleans."

"We know that secular involvement is the only way that the public will learn the true scope of the existence and coverup of clergy sex crimes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans," reads the statement from SNAP.

Wednesday's statement from the Archdiocese asked those who have been sexually abused by a Franciscan of the St. John the Baptist Province, or have information about someone who has, to first report it to your local law enforcement authorities.

Victims should contact Father Michael Chowning, the director of the Province Office for the Protection of Children, at 513-721-4700, ext. 3214, or email childprotection@franciscan.org. The call and information will remain confidential, according to the Archdiocese.

"The Province is mandated under its zero-tolerance policies and procedures to report allegations and claims to local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies," the statement read.