Archdiocese of New Orleans will release personnel files of clergy accused of sex abuse

CNA Staff, Nov 8, 2024 / 13:25 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of New Orleans this week said it will release personnel files of priests accused of sexual abuse amid ongoing negotiations of a major abuse settlement there.

The archdiocese in September proposed a bankruptcy settlement as part of its plan for addressing sexual abuse by clergy, offering a $62.5 million payout to victims. The abuse survivors have requested approximately $1 billion.

On Thursday the archdiocese said in an announcement that it had agreed to “nonmonetary plan provisions to be included in the bankruptcy plan,” which will include “improving public accountability and transparency.”

Court documents filed on Thursday said the archdiocese would contract with a college or university to publish, in part, “personnel files” of any “clergy, former clergy, religious, or laity” identified by the archdiocese as a perpetrator of sexual abuse.

The publication of the files would “promote healing and reconciliation” and help prevent child sexual abuse from occurring in the future, the court documents state.

In a statement on Thursday, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the Church “is committed to protecting children and preventing the evil of child sexual abuse from occurring in our Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries.”

“I welcome this progress in our reorganization, but more importantly, I welcome the new means to strengthen our existing, effective programs for the safety and security of our children in all of our ministries,” the prelate said.

“It is my prayer that our work with the committee will continue to be collaborative keeping the survivors at the forefront of decisions.”

In the documents filed Thursday, the archdiocese also agreed that it would “mail written letters of apology to any individual” who filed a child sexual abuse claim there.

In addition, the archdiocese will post a public apology in the archdiocesan newspaper The Clarion Herald, addressed “to all known child sexual abuse claimants.”

The archdiocese will further allot space on its website for victims of abuse to share their stories and will also create “a place of remembrance” for sexual abuse victims at the diocesan chancery.

And the archdiocese will “remove all plaques, pictures, statutes, or other public recognitions” on its properties of any diocesan officials credibly accused of sexual abuse.

The archdiocese has been working through the bankruptcy proceedings for nearly half a decade, having first applied for bankruptcy in May 2020.

Last year the archdiocese announced the “difficult and painful decision” to consolidate 11 parish communities, permanently close seven churches, and consolidate three territories in order to ensure sustainability and vitality.

In September of last year the archbishop said the archdiocese would be asking parishes, schools, and ministries for monetary contributions in order to protect their assets during the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.