17 North Louisiana Priests Accused of Sexually Abusing Children Prior to 1986

By Nick Wooten and Ashley Mott
Shreveport Times
February 6, 2019

https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/02/06/17-north-louisiana-priests-accused-sexually-abusing-children-prior-1986/2797615002/

Seventeen priests who served in north Louisiana were accused of sexually abusing minors before 1986. Nearly all of them had ties to the Shreveport-Bossier City area, according to a report released by the Diocese of Alexandria Wednesday.

Prior to 1986, the Diocese of Alexandria included the Diocese of Shreveport, but all files related to priests, living and deceased, stayed in Alexandria due to church protocol. No allegations of sexual misconduct of a minor by a bishop, priest or deacon was received in the Diocese of Shreveport since June 1986, said Rev. Peter B. Mangum, the Shreveport diocesan administrator.

The Shreveport diocese covers 16 north Louisiana parishes — Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Union, Webster and West Carroll.

"Today, the names of priests accused of sexual abuse of a minor and the parishes in which they served have been released by the Diocese of Alexandria," Mangum said. "In conjunction with the release of names in the Diocese of Alexandria, I specifically note the names of those who served at any point in their ministry in what is now the geographic territory of the Diocese of Shreveport."

Mangum noted that a priest’s assignment in a particular area does not mean the allegation stemmed from that assignment.

Mangum also referenced the words of Bishop Michael Duca of Baton Rouge, upon release of the names of accused priests in south Louisiana in his statement. Duca previously served as the head of the Shreveport diocese.

"Some have asked why must we do this… [T]he fact that this wound will not heal tells us that we must continue to bring everything into the light," Duca said. "This is not easy. I have listened to some victims share their stories, and there are no words to express the depth of sadness and shame that was experienced in our Church and is part of our diocesan history. It is hard to lay this list out for all to see, but real renewal and healing cannot take place until we acknowledge the truth of our past."

If you or someone you know is a victim of clerical sexual abuse that you contact your local law enforcement authorities and Glennda Lawson, Victim Assistance Coordinator, at 318-294-1031, the Shreveport diocese said.

Diocese of Alexandria Report

The priests listed below were priests of the Diocese of Alexandria who were assigned in parishes that later became part of the Diocese of Shreveport after 1986.

Name: Edward T. Allen

Parishes Served: St. Theresa, Shreveport and St. Lucy, Hodge

An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1973 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2005. The accusation was deemed credible, and Allen resigned from active ministry in 2005. A settlement was made with the victim in 2012. Allen died in 2018

Name: William Allison

Parishes Served: Our Lady of Fatima, Monroe and Christ the King, Bossier City

An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1961 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004. Allison died in 1986. Review of Allison’s file in 2019 showed evidence corroborating the allegation.

The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Name: William C. Bressler

Parish Served: St. Catherine of Siena, Shreveport

Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male and female minors dating back to the 1960s were brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004 and again in 2005 and were deemed credible.

Review of Bresslers’ file in 2019 showed evidence corroborating the allegations. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Bressler died in 1990, and settlements were made with the victims in 2006 and 2017.

Name: Msgr. Paul Conway

Parishes Served: Christ the King, Bossier City & St. Lucy, Hodge

Allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of female minors dating back to 1956 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004 and after investigation the allegations were deemed credible.

Conway died 1996, and settlements were paid to the victims in 2005 and in 2017.

Name: Francis O. Couvillion

Parishes Served: St. Francis Sanitarium, Monroe; Sacred Heart, Rayville and Sacred Heart, Springhill

A review of Couvillion’s file in 2019 revealed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating back to the 1950s. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Couvillion died in 1978.

Name: Francis P. Donohoe

Parishes served: Holy Rosary, Shreveport, St. Matthew, Monroe and Little Flower of Jesus, Monroe

Donohoe was a former Capuchin friar, incardinated in the Diocese of Alexandria by Bishop Desmond in 1942.

Review of Fr. Donohoe’s file in 2019 showed evidence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating from the 1960s. Bishop Greco asked for and received Fr. Donohoe’s resignation as pastor and he was removed from active ministry in 1966. This evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Donohoe died in 1983.

Name: Harvey Fortier

Parishes Served: Christ the King, Bossier City & St. Margaret, Homer

Review of Fr. Fortier’s file in 2019 revealed an allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1954. An allegation was made of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor in 1994 and deemed credible.

The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible, and a settlement was made with the victim in 1995.

Fortier died in 1999.

Name: John Franklin

Parish Served: Holy Trinity, Shreveport

An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1966 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004 and after investigation, the allegations were deemed credible. A settlement was made with the victim in 2005.

Review of Franklin’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Franklin left the diocese in 1973 and died in Alabama in 1986.·

Name: Msgr. Robert Friend

Parish Served: St. Joseph, Zwolle

An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1954 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004. The allegation was deemed credible and a settlement was made with the victim in 2005.

Friend died 1977.

Name: Moise R. Gremillion

Parishes Served: St. John the Baptist, Many; Holy Trinity, Shreveport; St. Matthew, Monroe; Sacred Heart, Rayville and St. Clement, Vivian

A review of Gremillion’s file in 2019 revealed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating from the 1960s. This evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Gremillion retired from active ministry in 1969 and died in 1973.

Name: Michael G. Hannon

Parishes Served: St. Joseph, Monroe and St. Matthew, Monroe

Review of Hannon’s file in 2019 showed evidence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating from the 1960s. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Hannon left the diocese in 1963. He was incardinated in the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York in 1982 and died in 2000.

Name: Kenneth Mathews

Parish Served: Christ the King, Bossier City

A review of Mathews’ file in 2019 showed evidence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating back to the 1980s. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Mathews left active ministry on a leave of absence in 1998 and died in 2008.

Name: Donald Rogers

Parish Served: St. Catherine of Siena, Shreveport

An allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1962 was brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2004.

Review of Rogers’ file in 2019 showed evidence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of minors. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Rogers was removed from active ministry in 1967 and laicized in 1974.

Rogers was born in 1930 and would be 88 at the time of this letter. His whereabouts are unknown.

Name: Louis Senesac

Parish Served: St. Clement, Vivian

Senesac was a priest of the clerics of Saint Viator. A review of his file in 2019 showed evidence of an allegation of sexual misconduct and abuse of a male minor dating back to 1945. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegation was deemed credible.

Senesac was removed from active ministry in the diocese and died in 1966.

Name: Victor Sepsi

Parish Served: St. Catherine of Siena, Shreveport

A review of Fr. Sepsi’s file in 2019 showed evidence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating back to the 1960s. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Sepsi left the diocese and active ministry in 1967.

Sepsi was born in 1930 and would be 88 at the time of this letter. His whereabouts are unknown.

Name: Msgr. H. Clinton Teacle

Parish Served: St. Joseph, Shreveport

Allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating back to the 1960s were brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2009.

Review of Msgr. Teacle’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.

Teacle died in 1969.

Name: Leger Trembley

Parishes Served: Holy Rosary, Shreveport & St. Joseph, Mansfield

Allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors dating back to the 1950s and 1960s were brought before the Permanent Review Board in 2003 and again in 2005. Settlements were made in 2004 and in 2005.

Review of Tremblay’s file in 2019 showed further evidence of sexual misconduct and abuse of male minors. The evidence was presented to the Permanent Review Board in 2019 and the allegations were deemed credible.