The New Orleans Archdiocese went to extraordinary lengths to defend a priest who admitted to molestation of several minors, according to recently revealed records.
Documents that were recently made public by The Guardian shed light on retired priest Father Lawrence Hecker‘s alleged behavior, showing that four archbishops were aware of the claims while he was still a practicing priest for 13 years.
According to The Guardian’s investigation, Hecker admitted to engaging in “overtly sexual acts” with minors from 1966 to 1979, including one event that happened while they were on an overnight excursion to a theme park in Texas.
During that period, the alleged abuser used to work as a priest in a number of New Orleans-area congregations. The records claim that Phillip Hannan and other past archbishops knew about Hecker’s sexual abuse of young boys as early as 1988, but did virtually nothing to prevent it. Instead, he kept serving for the church up until 2002, receiving benefits up until three years ago.
The archdiocese reportedly moved Hecker to different church roles without telling the authorities, who are only now obtaining the records, and sent him for counseling. The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office is presently considering whether to prosecute him.
Mr. Hannan reportedly confessed to his wrongdoing, claiming that “a time of great change in the world and in the church” was to blame for his conduct, and that he “succumbed to its zeitgeist.” The three-year-old Hecker deposition is now being sought to be made public by attorney Richard Trahant on behalf of the victims.
“If there’s evidence and sealed records of adults preying on children, we have to investigate that. It needs to be brought to criminal court,” District Attorney Jason Williams said.
“The Archdiocese of New Orleans has and will continue to cooperate in any law enforcement investigation concerning Lawrence Hecker or into wrongdoing by any other cleric, employee, or volunteer”, the Archdiocese commented in a statement.