Diocese Removes Parish Pastor Pending Investigation

By Dan Wallach
Beaumont Enterprise
December 17, 2015

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Diocese-removes-parish-pastor-pending-6704823.php

The Diocese of Beaumont has placed a Port Arthur parish pastor on leave pending a civil and church investigation for unannounced reasons, the diocese confirmed in statement by Bishop Curtis Guillory.

The pastor, Father David Placette, was removed from the parish. Ministerial duties will be performed by other priests. Placette was named pastor on July 1, 2013. Before that, he had been a diocesan priest.

In a statement from Guillory posted on the diocesan website, Guillory said, "We were deeply concerned to learn a little more than a week ago that Child Protective Services and the Port Arthur police initiated an investigation into an allegation at St. Catherine's Church. I have placed Father Placette on administrative leave from all priestly ministry pending civil and ecclesiastical investigations into this matter."

Barbara Dorris, outreach director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, based in St. Louis, said even though Catholic bishops had promised transparency in connection with priest abuse, the manner in which Placette's case is handled is opaque.

"We don't know why he was removed. This is not open and transparent. When did the diocese learn? When did the police learn?" Dorris said.