Rev. William J. O’Donnell

Ordained: 1966
Status: Settled

Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans LA

Ordained for the Maryknoll order. Worked in Guatemala for four years. Air Force chaplain. Left the Maryknolls and became a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where he worked in parishes and as a Metropolitan Tribunal judge. Retired in 2009. Accused in 2016 of raping two adolescent boys over a two-year period. (Time-period unclear.) The Archdiocesan Review Board deemed the allegations credible and the victims received settlements of $125K and $100K. Archbishop Aymond, however, said the allegations had “no semblance of truth” and did not add him to the Archdiocese’s list of credibly accused. In 2018 another allegation was received, that O’Donnell spanked teenagers.


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