Louisiana and the turmoil in the Catholic church

We all know that there is a crisis in the Catholic
Church right now. Allegations of sexually abusive clergy
are pouring in worldwide. Unfortunately, the roots of
this terrible tragedy engulfing the Catholic Church have
strong ties to the Bayou Sate. Here’s how National
Public Radio in Minnesota titled their investigative
story on sexual abuse by priests: “It
All Began in Lafayette, Louisiana.” And it did,
back in 1984.”
Lafayette criminal defense attorney Ray Mouton
was contacted back then by the Catholic Diocese
of Lafayette. Diocese officials badly need
a criminal defense attorney who was a Catholic
and who would have the church’s interest at
heart. Ray felt an obligation to help his church,
but quickly learned that criminal charges had
been filed against a local cleric, Father Gilbert Gauthe,
who was the first Catholic priest in U.S. history to be
criminally charged with molesting numerous children
throughout South Louisiana.