Archbishop Evil, Archdiocese of New Orleans

Wattingly, a chaplain of the Pope John Paul II high school in Slidell, Louisiana, we to to New Orleans’ archbishop, Gregory Aymond, who allegendly summoned him to a meeting in February 2020. Wattigny said that Aymond asked him at that meeting: “Do you give me your word you will not do it again?"

"Wattigny said he gave Aymond his word and temporarily stuck to it, buying him another eight months or so in ministry. But, during questioning from parole officials, Wattigny acknowledged having a strong sexual attraction to the teenager he was texting. He said he “gave in … and I texted this person again” amid the stress of the ensuing Covid-19 pandemic."

But Archbishop Aymond did not report Wattingly's crime to civil law enforcement authoritites. A criminal crime according to the Louisiana Mandatory Law.

CHAPTER 5. CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION
Art. 609. Mandatory and permitted reporting; training requirements

A. With respect to mandatory reporters:
(1)(a) Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child’s death shall report in accordance with Article 610.

(1)(a) For purposes of this Article, the pregnancy of a child under the age of thirteen years shall constitute cause to consider whether the child has been abused.

(2)(a) Violation of the duties imposed upon a mandatory reporter subjects the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(1).

(3)(a) To familiarize mandatory reporters, as defined by Children’s Code Article 603, with their legal mandate for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, such mandatory reporters shall be offered training on the statutory requirements and responsibility of reporting child abuse and neglect. This training shall be made available by the child welfare division of the Department of Children and Family Services or any other mechanism as approved by the department as long as it includes information on the reporting procedure and the consequences of failing to report.

(b) Each mandatory reporter may obtain mandatory reporting training as each mandatory reporter believes to be necessary in accordance with Subsubparagraph (a) or (d) of this Subparagraph

(c) The appropriate state regulatory department, board, commission, or agency for each category of mandatory reporter may provide continuing education credit for the completion of the training pursuant to this Paragraph.

(d) Any entity, including but not limited to hospitals, educational and religious institutions, and nonprofits, may provide its employees, volunteers, or educational attendees with equivalent training pursuant to Subsubparagraph (a) of this Subparagraph.

B. With respect to permitted reporters, any other person having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect, including a judge of any court of this state, may report in accordance with Article 610.

C. The filing of a report, known to be false, may subject the offender to criminal prosecution authorized by R.S. 14:403(A)(3).

Acts 1991, No. 235, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 637, § 1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2013, No. 163, § 1; Acts 2020, No. 122, § 1, eff. June 9, 2020

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is a victim of childhood sexual abuse, confidential help and advocacy are available through Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse (SCSA) at 469-275-1439, or by visiting http://www.scsaorg.org.

About

About the author: Dr. Windmann has been an activist and advocate for chilldhood sex abuse victims and survivors for over a decade. He is one of the co-founders of Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse, and is currently the president of the organization. He is also a prolific speaker and writer on the subject of childhood sex abuse, and appeared in the Netflix documentary "Scouts Honor: The Secret Files Of The Boy Scouts Of America." You can contact him at [email protected].

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