Louisiana diocese names 37 clergy members accused of abuse

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has released the names of 37 clergy members it says were credibly accused of sexually abusing children or vulnerable adults.

News outlets report Bishop Michael Gerard Duca on Thursday released the list, which says several clergy members were accused multiple times. Duca says the list will be updated and names will be added as more information is collected.

It includes clergy who were accused within the diocese’s territory before and after it formed in 1961 and clergy not accused in the diocese’s territory but named as credibly accused by other dioceses.

Two of the named clergy members remained in ministry until their deaths. One of the named clergy members was also a former Lafayette police officer, and more than a dozen of the clergy members are listed as deceased.