Archdiocese of New Orleans

The Latest

Bishop Fernand (Ferd) Joseph Cheri III, OFM, at his ordination as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans in 2015.

New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Cheri dies at 71 after lengthy illness

Mar 22, 2023

By Peter Finney Jr.

Bishop Fernand Joseph Cheri III, OFM, who served since 2015 as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, died March 21 at... Read more

Ruth Prats offers a reflection on her relationship with Father Otis Young before Mass in June 2022.

Former parish employee identified as second victim of Louisiana double homicide

Dec 1, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Ruth Prats, 73, worked for Father Otis Young when he was pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington, Louisiana. Read more

Father Otis Young, the former pastor at St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington, Louisiana, was killed in a double homicide less than a year after his retirement.

Louisiana priest confirmed as victim in double homicide, archbishop offers prayers

Nov 30, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Father Otis Young, 71, who retired in July, was pastor for approximately 10 years at St. Peter Catholic Church in... Read more

Father Travis Clark after his Sept. 30, 2020, arrest.

Disgraced Louisiana priest pleads guilty to filming pornographic material on parish altar

Nov 22, 2022

By Peter Pinedo

Travis Clark pled guilt to a felony count of obscenity for his actions at a Catholic church in Pearl River,... Read more

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New Orleans priest facing rape charges also accused of embezzling $400,000

Nov 8, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

A suspended Archdiocese of New Orleans priest who is facing rape charges could now be facing additional federal charges for... Read more

Father Patrick Wattigny

New Orleans priest arrested again on sexual abuse of minor charge

Oct 28, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Father Patrick Wattigny, 55, was originally arrested in October 2020 and entered a plea of not guilty to molestation of... Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

FBI probe could help prosecute Louisiana priests accused of inter-state sex abuse

Jul 1, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Federal authorities are investigating alleged sex abuse of minors by New Orleans-area Catholic clergy, sometimes going back decades, on the... Read more

Father Robert Cooper on the set of his online cooking show.

Cooking show is this New Orleans priest's recipe for sharing the faith

Feb 26, 2022

By Leonardo Colon

Meet Father Robert Cooper, star of a new online cooking series in which he creates various dishes inspired by feast... Read more

New Orleans' Jackson Square.

New Orleans archdiocese to pay $1m settlement for 'fraudulent' Hurricane Katrina claims

Nov 15, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Archdiocese of New Orleans will pay more than $1 million in a settlement related to allegations of fraud in... Read more

Damage at St. Stephen's Catholic School in New Orleans

‘We'll get through it’: New Orleans pastor looks to rebuild after Ida

Sep 2, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A New Orleans pastor whose parish school was severely damaged in Hurricane Ida is bracing himself for a “big expense,”... Read more

Louisiana National Guardsmen rescue people in LaPlace, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. More than 6,000 members of the National Guard from more than a dozen states were in Louisiana assisting state and federal partners with relief efforts.

Louisiana schools closed amid prayers for survivors in the wake of Hurricane Ida

Sep 1, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

At least one Catholic church in New Orleans has opened its doors to serve as an emergency shelter amid widespread... Read more

Fr. Travis Clark after his Sept. 30 arrest.

Louisiana priest who desecrated altar charged with vandalism

Mar 22, 2021

A priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans arrested last year along with two women after filming a pornographic video... Read more

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans in Rome, Jan. 26, 2012.

New Orleans archdiocese seeks laicization for all clergy credibly accused of sex abuse

Oct 27, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

While scandalous allegations against two New Orleans-area priests have again raised questions about the Church’s response to clergy misconduct, the... Read more

Participants at a prayer rally for priests and seminarians in New Orleans held small rocks as they prayed, which were then given to seminarians as a reminder of the prayers.

Amid scandal, these Louisiana Catholics say priests ‘rock’

Oct 14, 2020

By Mary Farrow

Like many Catholics in the Archdiocese of New Orleans these days, Theresa Truxillo said she was alarmed when she learned... Read more

Fr. Travis Clark after his Sept. 30 arrest.

After ‘demonic’ desecration, Louisiana church reconsecrated as details about priest emerge

Oct 12, 2020

By JD Flynn

Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Saturday consecrated a new altar at the Louisiana parish where a priest reportedly filmed a pornographic... Read more

Archibshop Gregory Aymond.

New Orleans archbishop: Priest's desecration of altar 'demonic'

Oct 9, 2020

The Archbishop of New Orleans said Friday that a priest’s filming of a pornographic videotape atop a church’s altar was... Read more

Fr. Pat Wattigny.

Lawyer says New Orleans priest groomed teens by text, archdiocese doubles down on defense

Oct 9, 2020

By JD Flynn

The Archdiocese of New Orleans defended on Friday its handling of a priest who sent text messages to at least... Read more

Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Pearl River, Louisiana.

New Orleans priest defiles altar with pornographic filmmaking, arrested for obscenity

Oct 9, 2020

A priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans has been arrested along with two women and charged with obscenity after... Read more

Fr. Pat Wattigny.

New Orleans priest removed for abuse sent messages to high school student

Oct 9, 2020

The Archdiocese of New Orleans reportedly knew for months but did not inform school officials that a priest chaplain at... Read more

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

New Orleans Catholic archdiocese, universities sued over alleged Hurricane Katrina aid fraud

Jun 4, 2020

A federal lawsuit alleges that the Archdiocese of New Orleans, as well as two historically black New Orleans universities, improperly... Read more