An elderly priest’s guilty plea exposes the church’s history of shielding predators in its midst for decades

Summary

Former New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker, 93, pleaded guilty to child rape, exposing decades of systemic cover-ups by the New Orleans Catholic archdiocese.

Church leaders shielded Hecker despite his 1999 confession and psychiatric diagnosis as an incurable pedophile.

Archbishops allowed him to retire quietly in 2002, avoiding public accountability.

Hecker’s guilty plea followed growing evidence, media exposure, and a 2023 grand jury indictment.

Survivors and advocates demand justice for systemic abuses and cover-ups within the archdiocese, as the case highlights broader inquiries into potential clergy sex-trafficking.

  • microphone900@lemmy.ml
    12·
    9 days ago

    The federal judge presiding over the church’s bankruptcy, Meredith Grabill, at one point ruled that the seal on case-related information was so sacrosanct that it could not be lifted even with respect to Hecker and his potential crimes. In reaching that decision, Grabill said she intended to “destroy any [sealed] information that this court received” while litigating the issue about whether Hecker deserved to benefit from the bankruptcy’s secrecy.

    What the actual hell is wrong with people?! Let’s not forget that the Southern Baptist Church released an incomplete list of its child abusing priests. Incomplete not because they didn’t know names, but because it wanted to protect them.

    And conservatives say LGBT+ people are groomers and abusers. Never let them forget who the real predators are, where are they more likely to stay hidden and be protected.