Federal lawsuit names Diocese of Lake Charles

A lawsuit has been filed against the Diocese of Lake Charles and Archdiocese of New Orleans, seeking millions of dollars in damages on behalf of an alleged victim of a priest who has been indicted on molestation.

Mark Broussard, 57, is facing 10 counts of child sex charges including molestation, rape and sexual battery. He is jailed on a $3.4 million bond.

Broussard was a priest at St. Henry Catholic Church in Lake Charles. He resigned from the priesthood in 1994.

Broussard's trial is set for Sept. 16.

Attorney Felecia Peavy is a Houston attorney representing one of the alleged victims in the case. She said they have filed a lawsuit in federal court, alleging the Diocese of Lake Charles and Archdiocese of New Orleans failed to properly supervise Broussard and were aware and should have reported the abuse to authorities.

"Buried the information that shows the Diocese had fallen down on its duty to my client and other parishioners in the country," Peavy said.

The Diocese of Lake Charles has issued this statement in response to the lawsuit:

"The Diocese of Lake Charles has been notified of a lawsuit filed against the Archdiocese of New Orleans, along with the Vatican, the Diocese of Lake Charles, and a former cleric who resigned from the Diocese approximately 20 years ago. The Diocese of Lake Charles offers its prayers for healing and reconciliation to all parties involved."

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New Orleans.

We'll have more on this on later editions.

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