Diocese of Lake Charles Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Lake Charles, Louisiana, have filed a new wave of lawsuits under the state’s lookback window, which gives victims until June 2027 to take legal action.
- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles in Louisiana is facing several recent lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors by clergy members.
- In 2019, the Diocese of Lake Charles published a list of 12 clergy members who had been credibly accused of child sexual abuse.
- If you or a loved one has endured sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Lake Charles, you have legal rights and options under Louisiana law for seeking accountability and compensation.
Allegations of Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Lake Charles
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles includes the civil parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis in Southwestern Louisiana. It also operates six schools. In 2019, the Diocese published a list of 12 clergy members who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.
The 12 clergy members listed are:
- Fr. Juan Alers – deceased
- Fr. Michael John Barras – deceased, sued
- Fr. Mark A. Broussard – criminally convicted
- Fr. James F. Burke – deceased, sued
- Fr. J. Richard Chachere – deceased
- Sr. Thelma Dexheimer – deceased, sued
- Fr. Gregory Mosca – deceased, sued
- Br. Edmund Normantowicz – deceased
- Deacon Saunier – sued
- Fr. Herbert F. Schuster – deceased, sued
- Fr. Charles Soileau – deceased, sued
- Fr. J. Patrick Walsh – deceased
Several of the clergy members listed as credibly accused have been named as perpetrators in clergy sex abuse lawsuits against the Diocese. Meanwhile, other lawsuits name additional clergy members not on the original list.
Diocese of Lake Charles Lawsuits and Criminal Charges
Since Louisiana’s lookback window for child sexual abuse lawsuits took effect in 2021, at least 10 lawsuits have been filed over abuse at churches and schools in Lake Charles. Those lawsuits name eight clergy members as perpetrators, only two of whom were also named in the diocese’s list of credibly accused clergy published in 2019.
The Diocese of Lake Charles has a history of lawsuits and criminal prosecution of clergy members accused of sexually abusing minors. In 2012, police arrested diocesan priest Mark Broussard for sexually abusing three boys as young as eight years old in the late 1980s at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Henry’s Parishes.
Records showed that diocesan officials knew Broussard had sexual contact with at least four other children, but never reported to law enforcement. He was convicted of aggravated rape, molestation of a juvenile, and aggravated oral sexual battery in 2016 and sentenced to 250 years in prison.
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Who Can File a Lawsuit Against the Diocese of Lake Charles?
You may be eligible to file a lawsuit over clergy abuse against the Diocese of Lake Charles if you were sexually abused as a minor by a priest, deacon, or other diocese-affiliated staff at any point in time—even if it was decades ago.
If Louisiana’s old statute of limitations previously barred your claim, you may still be entitled to pursue legal action. You may also be eligible to file a lawsuit if your child, who is still a minor, was sexually abused by Lake Charles clergy.
Who Can Be Sued for Clergy Sex Abuse?
Clergy sexual abuse lawsuits typically target more than the individual clergy or staff member who committed the abuse. They usually name the diocese, parishes, and schools as defendants, alleging they knew or should have known about the potential for abuse and failed to protect the children under their care.
On the other hand, criminal cases are separate from civil lawsuits, and the charges are filed against the individual abuser.
Louisiana's Lookback Window: What Survivors Need to Know
The Louisiana Legislature amended the state’s statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits in 2021 by eliminating the filing deadline for any future claims arising from child sexual abuse. In addition, the legislature passed a law that opened a “lookback window” for child sexual abuse lawsuits, reviving claims that had previously been time-barred by the previous statute of limitations. Though the lookback window was originally set to last three years, it was renewed in August 2024 and is now active through June 14, 2027.
After the lookback window expires in 2027, survivors will still have no deadline to file suit over abuse that has occurred after 2021. Survivors can also sue a person convicted of a crime against a child at any time after the conviction.
Potential Future Changes to the Lookback Window
In February 2026, lawmakers introduced House Bill 409, proposing to extend the lookback window filing deadline another two years until June 14, 2029. The legislation is currently pending action by the Louisiana House of Representatives’ Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
How a Clergy Abuse Lawyer Can Help Survivors
For survivors of sexual abuse, taking legal action can be overwhelming and frightening. A clergy sexual abuse lawyer can evaluate your case and explain your rights, options, and Louisiana’s legal processes.
Helping Survivors can connect you with an experienced clergy sexual abuse attorney for a free, confidential case evaluation. They can investigate the abuse, gather evidence, build a strong claim, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Get legal help today.
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