For survivors who experienced sexual abuse by someone associated with a Jesuit school, parish, or other institution in Louisiana, understanding who may be held responsible can be complicated—especially when the abuse happened decades ago.
The Jesuits have been part of Louisiana’s religious and educational communities for generations. In our work on clergy sexual abuse and other institutional abuse cases, the investigation rarely stops with the person accused. We examine how that person gained access to children, who hired or supervised them, whether concerns surfaced earlier, and what the institution did with that information.
Louisiana survivors continue to come forward under the state’s childhood sexual abuse lookback law, which has reopened claims once considered too old to pursue. The current filing period remains open until June 14, 2027.
Understanding the Jesuits in Louisiana
The Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Catholic religious order with a long history in Louisiana. Jesuits have operated schools and served in parishes, universities, retreat centers, and other ministries throughout the state.
Today, Louisiana is part of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province, formed in 2014 from the former New Orleans and Missouri Provinces.
That history can be important in a Louisiana sex abuse case. An alleged abuser may have been a Jesuit priest or brother. Still, abuse at a Jesuit institution may also involve a teacher, coach, employee, volunteer, or another person who had access to children through the organization.
When a Jesuit is accused, assignment histories can help trace where that person served and whether allegations surfaced elsewhere. The Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province has published a list of Jesuits with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult, along with information about their assignments.
When the accused person was not a member of the religious order, a different trail may need to be followed. Employment records, background information, school records, earlier complaints, witness testimony, and other documents may help establish how that individual came to work around children and what the institution knew about them.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Abuse at a Jesuit Institution?
An institutional sexual abuse case can raise questions about the actions of the school or organization itself. Recent litigation involving Jesuit High School in New Orleans illustrates the kinds of institutional decisions that may become part of a case.
Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain (HKGC) partner Soren Gisleson, working with attorneys Richard Trahant and John Denenea, has represented survivors in lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at Jesuit High during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Two of those cases recently resulted in settlements involving allegations against former school employees Pete Modica and Gary Sanchez.
Modica had pleaded guilty in 1963 to molesting boys at a Jefferson Parish playground before he later went to work as a custodian at Jesuit High. During a deposition, Gisleson questioned former Jesuit High president Rev. Anthony McGinn about the school’s hiring of Modica. In response to Gisleson’s questions, McGinn agreed that the school should have conducted a criminal background check and that an adequate check would have prevented Modica from working there.
The cases have also produced testimony and records concerning earlier abuse allegations, previous settlements, school practices, and other individuals accused of sexual abuse.
That is the kind of history we look for when investigating an institutional sexual abuse case.
Who hired the person? What information was available at the time? Were there warning signs? Did anyone complain? Did others make similar allegations? If concerns surfaced, how did the institution respond?
In an older case, those answers may be scattered across decades of records and testimony. Finding them can change what is known about how the abuse was allowed to occur.
What Evidence Can Still Be Found Decades After the Abuse?
It’s understandable for a survivor to believe that too much time has passed to find evidence of sexual abuse that occurred 30, 40, or 50 years ago. Our experience has taught us not to assume that.
Schools and religious organizations kept personnel files and other records. Priests and religious brothers had documented assignments. Schools published yearbooks. Complaints may have been recorded. Former students and employees may still be available to speak about what they witnessed or knew. Earlier lawsuits may have uncovered documents or testimony that did not previously exist in the public record.
Survivors also don’t need to know exactly who employed the person who abused them or which Catholic organization was responsible before speaking with an attorney. A name may provide a starting point. So might the name of a school or parish, an approximate year, a job or position, or a description of the person.
Part of our work is finding what remains—and determining which individuals and organizations may have been responsible.
Jesuit Abuse Claims Can Fall Outside the Archdiocese Bankruptcy
Identifying the organization involved can be especially important in Louisiana because not every Catholic institution is part of the same legal entity.
The resolution of the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy did not resolve all sexual abuse claims involving Catholic institutions in Louisiana. The Society of Jesus is a separate religious order, and recent lawsuits involving alleged childhood sexual abuse at Jesuit High School in New Orleans proceeded outside the Archdiocese bankruptcy.
For survivors who assumed the Archdiocese bankruptcy resolved or ended their opportunity to pursue a case, it may still be worth determining whether a separate Jesuit organization or institution was involved.
Louisiana’s Lookback Window Remains Open
Louisiana’s childhood sexual abuse lookback law gives qualifying survivors until June 14, 2027, to file claims that were previously barred by older time limits.
HKGC attorneys have represented survivors under the lookback law, helped defend the law against constitutional challenges, and investigated decades-old abuse involving Catholic institutions and religious orders.
If you experienced childhood sexual abuse involving a Jesuit school, parish, religious order, or someone associated with a Jesuit institution in Louisiana, contact Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain or call 1-844-943-7626 for a free and confidential consultation. We can listen to what you remember, investigate the people and institutions involved, and help you understand your legal options before the June 2027 deadline.
Other Clergy & Priest Abuse News
Louisiana’s childhood sexual abuse lookback window remains open through June 14, 2027, as the Archdiocese bankruptcy raises new questions about claims involving separate religious orders, including the Jesuits.
The documentary God As My Witness gives clergy sexual abuse survivors a voice while examining how attorneys investigated decades-old abuse, uncovered evidence, and pursued justice involving the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
A federal judge has approved a $305 million settlement in the New Orleans Archdiocese clergy sex abuse bankruptcy. This article explains what the settlement means, how Louisiana’s lookback law changed the case, and what survivors should know now.
Award-nominated documentary God As My Witness highlights clergy sexual abuse and the fight for justice.
A New Orleans clergy abuse trial verdict has demonstrated that justice is possible thanks to the Louisiana lookback law.
The first jury verdict was reached in a case relying on the Louisiana sex abuse look-back window, which revived claims related to childhood sexual abuse.
