NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE [New Orleans LA]
November 20, 2025
By Thanh Truong
On Thursday (Nov. 20), New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond apologized to survivors of clergy sex abuse. But for some of those survivors, the words rang hollow.
Aymond took the witness stand in federal court as part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ multimillion-dollar bankruptcy case. He testified for about 90 minutes while several survivors of alleged clergy abuse watched from the courtroom.
One of them, Richard Coon, said he was sexually abused for years, beginning when he was 10, by a Catholic school administrator.
“The ripple effect, the way it impacts you, is just astounding,” said Richard Coon.
Coon is among the claimants in the bankruptcy case. He and a handful of others came to court to witness the archbishop’s testimony.
“He has been hiding, or he is a sinister guy,” another survivor said in court.
On the stand, Aymond described the archdiocese’s rationale for declaring bankruptcy.
“The primary reason is to reach out to the survivors and give a just amount of money for the suffering they’ve been through,” said Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
Speaking on behalf of the archdiocese, Aymond also apologized, calling it “personally embarrassing” that any priest would sexually take advantage of anyone. Some survivors, however, questioned the sincerity of his apology.
“I didn’t think it was sincere. He should’ve did it a long time ago. So, to me, it didn’t sound sincere. It sounded like it was fake,” said Johnny Krummel, a survivor who says he was abused at the Madonna Manor orphanage in the early 1980s.
Earlier in the day, an expert witness explained how sexual abuse claims are evaluated to determine monetary compensation in bankruptcy and legal proceedings. The proposed settlement — to resolve more than 600 abuse claims against the archdiocese — totals $230 million. However, the expert testified that similar cases involving the Catholic Church and other institutions, such as the Boy Scouts of America, have resulted in settlements exceeding $1 billion.
Regarding the proposed deal, Aymond admitted it was the best the archdiocese could offer.
“A survivor’s pain is enormous, and there is no way to compensate for that,” said Archbishop Aymond.
But claimants like Coon said their pursuit isn’t about money — it’s about accountability.
“It’s a cover-up. It still is. I’m looking forward to the new archbishop being in full control. I don’t think he’s going to play those types of games,” said Richard Coon.
Aymond also acknowledged the financial burden facing the archdiocese in the wake of the bankruptcy.
“It is going to be a challenge for us to continue the mission of the church, but God provides,” Aymond said from the stand.
Testimony is expected to continue Friday, with Aymond’s successor, Coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio, set to testify.