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Bishop issues statement to faithful about child sex abuse

Posted at 4:51 PM, Sep 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-17 17:51:51-04

Lafayette Bishop Douglas Deshotel has issued a statement about child sex abuse and the Catholic church’s Safe Environment program.

In the brief video, which is posted below, the Bishop reiterates earlier statements about the program, and how it requires that all adults working with children on behalf of the church – from priests to volunteers – must undergo a background check. The program also provides a mechanism for the reporting of any allegations of abuse.

The Bishop also states, as he has in past public statements, that no one guilty of child abuse is currently working in the diocese.

To date, the Bishop has declined, however, to release a list of 15 priests in the diocese – past, present, retired, deceased – who have been “credibly” accused of child sex abuse over the years. KATC has been requesting that list from Deshotel for some time but we have never received it. To read about the list and other related issues, click here.

Here’s the video:

A message from the Bishop

A personal message from Bishop Douglas Deshotel to the people of the Diocese of Lafayette.

Posted by Diocese of Lafayette on Monday, September 17, 2018