NEW ORLEANS (LA)
WVUE - Fox 8 [New Orleans LA]
December 2, 2025
By Thanh Truong
More than a dozen survivors of alleged clergy sex abuse are demanding major reforms from the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Their demands came during hours of testimony Tuesday (Dec. 2) in the archdiocese’s bankruptcy trial. Testimony focused on the impact the abuse had on those who say they suffered at the hands of priests or clergy.
The testimony from survivors was as powerful as it was painful. The judge overseeing the bankruptcy case called it the most important part of the proceedings, because clergy sex abuse is at the core of the case. Some survivors viewed the opportunity to take the witness stand as their only chance to memorialize their account in a courtroom.
“There’s no justice for us here today, and you cannot compensate me for what you took from me. There’s no money in the world that can give me back my childhood,” said Brian Manix, a claimant in the case.
Manix was among almost 20 people who testified Tuesday.
One by one, they detailed how they were attacked or sexually abused by what some called predator priests. Most said they were abused as children. One woman said she was abused hundreds of times.
Another survivor testified he was around 5 years old when he suffered his first assault. Richard Coon said a Catholic school administrator began sexually abusing him when he was 10. Coon said it was important to tell his story before the court.
“You know, every time I started getting emotional and I choked up, I just remembered the 10-year-old boy that I’m fighting for,” Coon said after leaving the witness stand. “That’s what helped me keep going.”
Several survivors said they were raped by Lawrence Hecker. The former New Orleans priest pleaded guilty to multiple charges in December 2024, including aggravated rape and kidnapping. The 93-year-old died weeks after his conviction.
On the stand, all survivors expressed anger and frustration with the archdiocese for doing more to protect such predators than their victims. Some directed their frustration at outgoing Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who sat watching and listening to the testimony at a table just feet away.
“Aymond has not walked a minute with us,” Manix said. “He tells everybody, ‘I walk with survivors.’ I can’t wait until he has to go to 10 different places and sit down and talk with survivors.”
Coon said, “New Orleans Catholics deserve a leader that walks in Jesus’ shoes, and we haven’t had that. And we deserve it.”
The judge in the bankruptcy case said she’ll reference survivors’ testimony as she considers approving the archdiocese’s plan to settle more than 600 claims of clergy sex abuse. That plan includes the creation of a $230 million fund to pay survivors.
It also calls for a set of reforms — known in the bankruptcy proceedings as the non-monetary provisions — intended to increase child safety in churches and schools and to improve protocols for reporting abuse.
The judge says those reforms are critical because they can help prevent future abuse cases and lawsuits. Most of those testifying Tuesday said the reforms are more important than the money, but that they don’t believe the archdiocese will change its ways.
“Look across the nation right now — there are 42 archdioceses in the U.S. under bankruptcy for the same thing,” Manix said. “This is the way they hide it. They hide behind the veil.”
Some survivors said they forgive the church, others said closure is impossible. Survivor Jackie Berthelot said the trauma “doesn’t end here. This is a life sentence we have.”
Closing arguments in the bankruptcy confirmation hearing are scheduled for Thursday.