In Open Letter, Priests Support Archbishop Aymond after New Sex Scandals Rock Church

By Chris McCrory
WWL
October 16, 2020

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/crime/priests-pen-letter-supporting-aymond/289-6093bbfb-3480-4d88-a25d-b08b7a4e9d14

The scandals referenced in the letter are separate issues but have both led to new calls for Aymond to step down.

A group of New Orleans church leaders has penned an open letter on behalf of the archdiocese's 335 active priests in support of Archbishop Gregory Aymond as he steers the organization through two new, sexually explicit scandals involving priests.

The letter, dated Friday was signed by the chairmen of the Council of Deans and the Presbetyreal Council.

"We emphatically support Archbishop Aymond and his leadership of our local church," the letter reads.

The scandals referenced in the letter are separate issues but have both led to new calls for Aymond to step down.

In one case, a priest in St. Tammany Parish was arrested after being caught having sex with two dominatrixes on the altar of his Pearl River church. Aymond called the acts "demonic" and had the old alter burned before consecrating a new one.

But days before that incident came to light, the church was rocked by another child abuse claim, this time from the priest involved himself.

Rev. Pat Wattigny reportedly disclosed to Aymond that he had sexually abused a minor in 2013.