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Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana

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For the diocese of same name in Indiana, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana.

The Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana (Latin: Dioecesis Lafayettensis, French: Diocèse de Lafayette en Louisiane), is a Latin Catholic ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. The diocese was erected by the Vatican in 1918, and its current bishop is J. Douglas Deshotel. Covering St. Landry, Evangeline, Lafayette, St. Martin, Iberia, St. Mary, Acadia, and Vermilion parishes with exception to Morgan City of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux), the diocese is divided into four deaneries.[2][3][4][5]

Diocese of Lafayette

Dioecesis Lafayettensis

Diocèse de Lafayette
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryCivil parishes of St. Landry, Evangeline, Lafayette, St. Martin, Iberia, St. Mary, Acadia and Vermilion
Ecclesiastical provinceArchdiocese of New Orleans
Statistics
Area5,779 sq mi (14,970 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2013)
629,000
330,000 (52.5%)
Parishes121
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedJanuary 11, 1918
CathedralCathedral of Saint John the Evangelist
Patron saintImmaculate Conception (Primary)
St. John Vianney (Secondary)[1]
Secular priests190
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJ. Douglas Deshotel
Metropolitan ArchbishopGregory Michael Aymond
Bishops emeritusCharles Michael Jarrell
Map
Website
diolaf.org

History

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1700 to 1918

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During the mid-1700s, when Louisiana was part of the Spanish Empire, Catholic settlers from Spain, France, and Germany started arriving in the Lafayette area. Starting in 1755, they were joined by numerous French Acadians whom the British had expelled from their homes in present-day Nova Scotia.[6] The following are the first Catholic parishes in the area:

After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, all of present-day Louisiana became part of the United States. At that time, Louisiana was part of the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas, with its see city as New Orleans. In 1825, the Vatican renamed this diocese as the Diocese of New Orleans.[7] The Lafayette area would be part of the Diocese of New Orleans, succeeded by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, for the next 93 years.

1918 to 1950

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Pope Benedict XV erected the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana on January 11, 1918, with territory taken from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The pope named Monsignor Jules Jeanmard of New Orleans as the first bishop of the new diocese. Jeanmard designated Saint John's Church in Lafayette as the cathedral.[6]

In March 1923, a crowd in Lafayette was on the verge of starting a race riot after being incited by the Ku Klux Klan. Jeanmard persuaded the people to return home.[8][9] In 1924, Jeanmard opened St. Mary's Orphanage in Lafayette.[10] That same year, he requested that the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament move their motherhouse from New Orleans to Lafayette. He assisted them in building the retreat wing of their convent.[11]

Jeanmard in 1929 assisted the Newman Club of Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute in buying land and building a clubhouse at the institute.[12]

In 1934, Jeanmard welcomed the first African-American priests into the diocese.[13] Jeanmard also established a number of separate parishes for African-Americans, whom he did not want intimidated or infringed upon by whites. With funding from Sister Katharine Drexel, Jeanmard helped establish several rural schools for African-Americans in the diocese.[14]

The Discalced Carmelites in 1936 moved into the Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace, their new convent in Lafayette.[15]In 1938, Jeanmard opened the Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House in Grand Coteau.[16]In 1948, Jeanmard established the Immaculata Minor Seminary in Lafayette, a high school/college program for teenage boys entering the priesthood.[17]

1950 to 1990

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In 1952, Jeanmard became the first bishop in the Deep South to ordain an African-American man to diocesan priesthood when he conferred holy orders upon Louis Ledoux. In November 1955, Jeanmard excommunicated two women from Erath, Louisiana, after they assaulted a woman who taught an integrated catechism class.[8][18]

Jeanmard encouraged diocesan-sponsored television programs, religious radio programs in both English and French, and a diocesan newspaper, The Southwest Louisiana Register. Jeanmard also issued pastoral letters in support of the rights of labor to organize.[14]

After Jeanmard retired in 1956, Pope Pius XII named Auxiliary Bishop Maurice Schexnayder as the next bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana. During his tenure, Schexnayder built a new chancery building, expanded the Immaculata Minor Seminary, established 31 parishes and ordained 81 priests.[19] In 1961, he dedicated St. Eugene Catholic Church in Grand Chenier.[20]

Eager to increase lay participation in the parishes, Schexnayder established parish councils, school boards and other advisory panels staffed by lay people. Schexnayder retired in 1972.[21]

In 1972, Pope Paul VI named Monsignor Gerard Frey of New Orleans as the third bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana.[22] In 1980, Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Lake Charles, assigning the western half of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana to the new diocese.[23][24] During his tenure, Frey launched the Social Apostolate, a social service agency designed "to put people in the pews in touch with the poor."[25] Continuing Schexnayder's initiative, Frey also encouraged every church in the diocese to establish a parish council.[25] John Paul II appointed Reverend Harry Flynn from the Diocese of Albany as coadjutor bishop in 1989 to assist Frey. When Frey retired later that year, Flynn automatically became the new bishop.[26]

1990 to the early 21st century

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Flynn served in Lafayette in Louisiana until 1994, when John Paul II named him archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. To replace Flynn, the pope appointed Auxiliary Bishop Edward O'Donnell from the Archdiocese of St. Louis.[27] One of O'Donnell's initiatives was to increase the number of African-Americans in diocesan affairs.[28] He also instituted one of the first zero tolerance policies towards child sexual abuse by clergy in the nation.[29] O'Donnell retired in 2002.

In 2002, John Paul II appointed Charles Jarrell of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux as bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana. Jarrell retired in 2016.[30][31] In November 2019, parishes throughout the diocese raised $50,000 to assist the congregations of three African-American churches that had destroyed by arson.[32] In May 2024, parishioners averted a potential mass shooting at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville when they stopped an armed 16 year-old boy from entering the church.[33]

As of 2024, the current bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana is J. Douglas Deshotel, formerly an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Dallas. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2016.[34][35][36]

Sex abuse controversies

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In 1980, the diocese suspended Reverend Gilbert Gauthe from his pastoral position. As early as 1972, three priests had confronted Gauthe about his misconduct with boys. In 1974, Bishop Frey assigned Gauthe as a Boy Scout chaplain, even though Frey had heard allegations of Gauthe molesting altar boys.[37] In 1976, the diocese sent him away for therapy for seven months. By 1983, the diocese was receiving allegations of sexual misconduct by Gauthe from parishioners.[38]

The diocese in 1983 received a complaint from a family that Reverend Robert Fontenot had sexually abuse their child. He had previously been transferred out of other parishes due to complaints by priests that he was molesting children. The diocese in 1983 sent Fontenot to the House of Affirmation, a Catholic treatment center for pedophile priests in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.[39] The diocese reportedly paid $1 million in compensation to several of his victims. In 1986, Fortenot was arrested in Spokane, Washington, on charges of molesting boys at a drug treatment center. He was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison.[40]

In October 1984, in a trial receiving national media coverage, Gauthe was charged with multiple counts of aggravated crimes against nature, committing sexually immoral acts with minors, aggravated rape (sodomizing a boy under the age of 12) and crimes of pornography involving juveniles, through pornographic photo sessions. He pleaded guilty by reason of insanity.[41] In October 1985, Gauthe accepted a plea bargain, pleading guilty to child pornography, crime against nature and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.[42]

The diocese by 1985 had settled nine lawsuits by sexual abuse victims for $4.2 million.[41]Criticized for his handling of Gauthe, Frey said, "I ask for the prayers and understanding of all our people and of all people of good will of every faith and belief. I deeply regret and am distressed by the suffering that has taken place because of the tragic events in the diocese over the past several years."[citation needed] The diocese settled with the victims for more than $20 million in lawsuits involving Gauthe. Gauthe was later jailed for violating the Texas sex offender registration law and released in April 2010.[43]

In 2008, the diocese paid a settlement to a former altar boy who claimed Reverend Valerie Pullman had sexually abused him in 1972. Pullman had been accused as early as 1966 of sexually abusing children at different parishes in the diocese.[44]

In 2014, Minnesota Public Radio obtained documents from a 1988 lawsuit filed by the diocese againsts its insurers over sexual abuse claims. The insurers accused the diocese of protecting priests accused of sexually abusing children. The companies "argued that the diocese knew for years, if not decades, that some of their priests had fondled and even raped children" and that "the molestations took place largely during the reigns of Bishops Maurice Schexnayder and his successor, Bishop Frey".[45]

In 2015, it was revealed that ten years previously, the diocese had paid a $26 million settlement to the families of 123 children who were sexually abused by diocese priests between 1959 and 2002. The Daily Advertiser urged the release of the priests' names, but Bishop Jarrell refused, saying that he could not see the point.[46]

In October 2018, Reverend David Broussard received a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. Louisiana State Police had found 500 images of child pornography on his computer during a search of the rectory at St. Bernard Parish in Breaux Bridge.[47]

In March 2019, Reverend Michael Guidry confessed to molesting Oliver Peyton, a 16-year-old boy. Peyton, the son of Scott Peyton, the church deacon, was abuse by Guidry at his residence in St. Landry Parish.[48][49] In April 2019, Guidry pleaded guilty and received a seven-year prison sentence.[50] In March 2024, Bishop Deshotel excommunicated Scott Peyton after he announced that the family was leaving the Catholic Church.[51] In April 2019, the diocese released a list of 33 diocesan clergy who were "credibly accused" of committing acts of sex abuse.[52][53]

The Louisiana Supreme Court in June 2024 said that it would allow a "look back" period in which victims of sexual abuse could sue their perpetrators, despite the statute of limitations. Soon after that ruling, the diocese was named in six new sexual abuse lawsuits.[54]

Bishops

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Diocesan bishops

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  1. Jules Jeanmard (1918-1956)
  2. Maurice Schexnayder (1956-1972)
  3. Gerard Louis Frey (1972-1989)
  4. Harry Joseph Flynn (1989-1994), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and subsequently succeeded as archbishop
  5. Edward Joseph O'Donnell (1994-2002)
  6. Charles Michael Jarrell (2002-2016)
  7. J. Douglas Deshotel (2016–present)[55]

Former auxiliary bishops

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Other diocesan priests who became bishops

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High schools

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Ecclesiastical province of New Orleans

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See: List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Province of New Orleans

References

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  1. ^ "Patron Saints of the Diocese". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana.
  2. ^ "Central Deanery". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. ^ "North Deanery". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  4. ^ "South Deanery". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  5. ^ "West Deanery". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  6. ^ a b c "The History of the Diocese of Lafayette". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  7. ^ "New Orleans (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  8. ^ a b "BISHOP JEANMARD DIES IN LOUISIANA; Catholic Prelate Banned 2 Women Who Beat Teacher of Integrated Classes". The New York Times. 1957-02-24.
  9. ^ "Louisiana Guardsmen Refuse to Drill Under Klan Captain". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Saint Mary's Orpanage Building". Preservation Alliance of Lafayette. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  11. ^ "Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  12. ^ "Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center | History". Our Lady of Wisdom. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  13. ^ "JEANMARD, Jules Benjamin". Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  14. ^ a b "Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  15. ^ "Homepage". Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  16. ^ "Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House | Explore Louisiana". www.explorelouisiana.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  17. ^ "Immaculata welcomed first seminarians in 1948". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  18. ^ "Milestones". TIME Magazine. 1957-03-04. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011.
  19. ^ "SCHEXNAYDER, Maurice". Louisiana Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  20. ^ Truman Stacey of the Diocese of Lake Charles for the Jubilee Year 2000.
  21. ^ "Bishop Maurice Schexnayder". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  22. ^ "Bishop Gerard Louis Frey". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  23. ^ "Lake Charles (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  24. ^ "Diocese of Lafayette". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  25. ^ a b Felty, Dana Clark (2007-08-18). "Bishop Frey recalled as kind, open to change". The Advocate.
  26. ^ "Bishop Harry Flynn". Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana.
  27. ^ "Bishop Edward Joseph O'Donnell [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  28. ^ "Bishop Edward O'Donnell". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  29. ^ "Obituary of Bishop Edward O'Donnell: Civil rights leader, beloved pastor". St. Louis Public Radio. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  30. ^ "Bishop Michael Jarrell". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  31. ^ "Bishop Charles Michael Jarrell [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  32. ^ "Lafayette diocese donates $50k to Baptist churches destroyed by arson". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  33. ^ "Louisiana parishioners stop teen armed with rifle from entering first Communion Mass". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  34. ^ "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Bing Microsoft Translator". www.bing.com. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel". Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  37. ^ "Rev. Gilbert J. Gauthe-Assignment". www.bishopaccountability.org. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  38. ^ Radio, Minnesota Public. "It all began in Lafayette | Betrayed by Silence: Chapter One". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  39. ^ "Jason Berry, Anatomy of a Cover-Up [Gauthe, Fontenot, Limoges, Engbers, Hebert]". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  40. ^ "Ronald Lane Fontenot". KATC News. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  41. ^ a b "Jason Berry, The Tragedy of Gilbert Gauthe, Part I". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  42. ^ Ap (1985-10-15). "EX-PASTOR GIVEN 20-YEAR SENTENCE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  43. ^ "Church abuse case haunts lawyer who defended priest". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  44. ^ "Records reveal new info in priest child abuse case, by Billy Gunn And Richard Burgess, Advocate (September 7, 2014)". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  45. ^ Gunn, Billy; Burgess, Robert (10 September 2014). "Documents shed light on old scandal". The Advocate. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  46. ^ Taylor, Claire. "From the Archives: Bishop: Abusive priests' names won't be revealed". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  47. ^ McElfresh, Amanda. "Former Acadiana priest pleads guilty to child porn charges". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  48. ^ "Former Louisiana Priest Pleads Guilty to Child Molestation". US News & World Report. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  49. ^ "South Louisiana priest arrested for molesting 16-year-old boy | WGNO". 14 June 2018.
  50. ^ MYERS, BEN (30 April 2019). "Former Lafayette Diocese priest Michael Guidry sentenced to 7 years for abusing altar boy". The Advocate.
  51. ^ Schmall, Emily (24 March 2024). "Former Deacon Excommunicated After His Son Is Sexually Abused by a Priest". The New York Times.
  52. ^ TAYLOR, CLAIRE (10 April 2019). "Lafayette diocese to release clergy abuse list Friday; 33 priests, 4 deacons to be named". The Advocate.
  53. ^ Doyle, Anne Barrett (2021-05-10). "Lafayette Diocese: Allegations against former priest Michael Guidry credible, formally apologizes to victim and family - BishopAccountability.org". Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  54. ^ Hummel, Anchor Jim (2024-06-21). "Diocese of Lafayette faces new lawsuits after Louisiana Supreme Court ruling on 'lookback' window". KADN News 15. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  55. ^ Gunn, Billy. "Diocese of Lafayette announces new bishop: the Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel". The Advocate. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
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30°12′50″N 92°01′46″W / 30.21389°N 92.02944°W / 30.21389; -92.02944

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