Disclosure of Names

Excerpts from

Light in the Darkness
A Pastoral Letter by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre

For the full text of Light in the Darkness, please visit htdiocese.org/lightinthedarkness

To the dear people of God in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux:

I address you today because I care for you, and because your faith in Jesus Christ is important to me. I write to you because you are an important part of the Body of Christ, the Church. Today the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is releasing the names of any priest with a credible allegation of child sexual abuse since our inception in 1977. Be assured that no priest in current active ministry in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is on the list.

I want to apologize for the egregious sins that have taken place. Let me be clear: the abuse of a child by anyone is sinful, abhorrent and evil, particularly when perpetrated by one vested with the sacred trust of God’s children. Furthermore, any attempt to cover up these sins is even more disturbing. I apologize to all who have been harmed. It is with deep respect and profound reverence that I humbly extend this apology. 

It is understandable if victims and their families feel angry and abandoned and if they mistrust the leadership of the church because of its failure to adequately respond to their distress and attend to their needs.  The lifelong process of healing that is necessary after enduring abuse is a road marked with struggle and I pray that the Church can assist every step of the way.

I am fully aware that the words “I’m sorry” ring hollow in light of what you have endured, but I apologize on behalf of the Church for damages caused by any cleric who has sinned. I apologize if victims and their families ever felt shunned by the church or if any bishop at any time failed to listen to them. I apologize to all who have been harmed by action and inaction that could have been avoided. With deep personal grief in my own heart, I express that I am sorry.

If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse by a priest, I, with great reverence, say to you now: The door is open. We invite you to come forward. Our Victims’ Assistance Coordinator is Sister Carmelita Centanni, M.S.C., Ph.D. Sister Carmelita is a religious Sister of the Marianites of Holy Cross. Sister Carmelita is also a Licensed Professional Clinical Psychologist. Before joining the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, she served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans where she also served as Victims’ Assistance Coordinator. Sister Carmelita has over 30 years of counseling experience, as well as 16 years as a Victims’ Assistance Coordinator. You may reach Sister Carmelita directly at 985.850.3172 or by email at ccentanni@htdiocese.org. 

Sister Carmelita is here to assist you. I, as your bishop, am here to assist you. We are committed, now more than ever, to walking with you toward healing.

If you have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being or has been abused by anyone, please do the following.

If abuse is within the home or by a Licensed Daycare Staff:

Call the LA Department of Children and Family Services

1-855-4LA-KIDS  (1-855-452-5437)  |  24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If abuse is outside of the home:

Call local Police or Sheriff’s Department

Lafourche Parish: (985) 446-2255

St. Mary’s Parish (337) 828-1960

Terrebonne Parish: (985) 876-2500

Jefferson Parish: (504) 364-5300

If you suspect that the abuser is a priest, deacon or member of Church personnel, please also call Sister Carmelita at (985) 850-3172. You may also call the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line at (985) 873-0026.

Let me explain the process that was used to determine this release of names. The 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People outlines the norms and policies that must be followed regarding the sexual abuse of a minor. The Charter not only defines what sexual abuse is, but in so doing outlines what matters must be brought before the Diocesan Lay Review Board. All such matters were brought to our Diocesan Lay Review Board in the fall of 2018.

As bishop, I made an intentional decision to give the Diocesan Lay Review Board the authority to determine whether the allegations had evidence of credibility and were substantiated. In so doing, the Diocesan Lay Review Board determined and recommended to me the list of the names that have been published. As mentioned earlier, our Diocesan Lay Review Board is comprised of leaders with over 200 years of expertise in law enforcement, legal and medical professions, and social services. Our current board is chaired by Judge Morris Lottinger, Jr., retired chief judge of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal. He served on the court from 1975 to 1998. The court has both civil and criminal jurisdiction in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary parishes as well as thirteen other parishes. The names of the remaining six members of the Diocesan Lay Review Board remain confidential.

Be assured that no priest in current active ministry in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is on this list. I encourage you to visit our website: htdiocese.org/lightinthedarkness. On this webpage, you will also find the full text of my Pastoral Letter and other resources regarding this issue, including videos for adults, parents and youth.

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DEFINITION

Faculties: a faculty is the authority, privilege, or permission, to perform an act or function. When we refer to “priestly faculties” we refer to one’s ability to function as a priest. One is only able to perform priestly ministry when authority, privilege, and permission has been granted by a bishop. Therefore, when priestly faculties have been permanently revoked, a man is no longer able to function as a priest.

The following list begins June 5, 1977, the date of the establishment of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.
For priests who served in our area prior to June 5, 1977, please consult the list for the Archdiocese of New Orleans by clicking here.
 

The following priests admitted, were convicted, or pled guilty: 

Lawrence Cavell

• Ordained in 1989
• Admitted to solicitation of a minor
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Served at Holy Cross in Morgan City, Sacred Heart in Montegut, Saint Francis de Sales in Houma, Saint Genevieve in Thibodaux, and Saint Mary in Raceland

Alexander Francisco

• Ordained in 1979
• Admitted to inappropriate physical contact with a minor
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Served at Holy Cross in Morgan City, Saint Bernadette in Houma, Saint Bridget in Schriever, Saint Joseph in Thibodaux, and Saint Thomas Aquinas in Thibodaux

Dale Guidry

• Ordained in 1982
• Pled guilty to online solicitation of a minor and accused of molestation of a minor
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Died October 20, 2013
• Served at Holy Cross in Morgan City and Saint Joseph in Galliano

Patrick Kujawa

• Ordained in 1996
• Pled guilty to possession of child pornography
• Convicted and currently incarcerated
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Served at Holy Cross in Morgan City and Saint Francis de Sales in Houma

Robert Melancon

• Ordained in 1962
• Convicted of aggravated rape of a minor
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Died November 5, 2018
• Served at Annunziata in Houma, Sacred Heart in Cut Off, and Saint Genevieve in Thibodaux

Carlos Melendez

• Priest of the Missionaries of Christ Crucified in El Salvador
• Accused of inappropriate physical contact with a minor and pled guilty to misdemeanor battery against a minor
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• United States Immigration returned him to his native El Salvador
• Current status or location unknown
• Served in Diocesan Hispanic Ministry

The following priests are the subject of credible allegations of sexual molestation of a minor that were the subject of civil litigation:

Etienne LeBlanc

• Ordained in 1971
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Died January 28, 2019
• Served at Annunziata in Houma, Holy Cross in Morgan City, Holy Family in Dulac, Saint Eloi in Theriot, Sacred Heart in Cut Off, Saint Hilary in Mathews, and Saint Thomas Aquinas in Thibodaux 

Gerald Prinz

• Ordained in 1968
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Served at Saint Francis de Sales in Houma, Saint Gregory in Houma, and Saint Louis in Bayou Blue

Bernard Schmaltz

• Ordained in 1973
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Died February 5, 2010
• Served at Annunziata in Houma

The following priests are the subject of credible allegations of serious and unacceptable conduct with minors, ranging from inappropriate physical contact of a minor to molestation of a minor:

Claude Boudreaux

• Jesuit priest who offered weekend assistance in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
• Ordained in 1955
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Died August 5, 2016

Gerard Kinane

• Priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
• Ordained in 1973
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Died March 2, 2020
• Served at Saint Hilary in Mathews

Ramon Luce

• Priest of the Diocese of San Pablo in the Philippines
• Ordained in 1995
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Voluntarily left the priesthood
• Served at Holy Savior in Lockport 

Dac Nguyen

• Priest of the Society of Domus Dei / Archdiocese of Birmingham in England
• Ordained in 1988
• All priestly faculties permanently removed within the Diocese
• Served at Thanh Gia (Holy Family) in Amelia

Daniel Poche

• Ordained in 1978
• All priestly faculties permanently removed by the Diocese
• Served at Holy Cross in Morgan City, Sacred Heart in Cut Off, Saint Bernadette in Houma, Saint Francis de Sales in Houma, Saint Hilary in Mathews, and Saint Joseph in Chauvin

We have received notification concerning the following priests who served in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux without any credible allegation, but who have been reported to have had a credible allegation while serving outside the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux:

John Joseph Finke

• Marianist priest
• Ordained in 1937
• Died 1983
• Served at St. Andrew in Amelia, and Sacred Heart in Morgan City
• For more information, click here.