Deacon James Lockwood
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1974
Removed: 1978
Assigned as follows:
- Center of Jesus the Lord (New Orleans, LA)
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Chalmette, LA)
- St. Aloysius School (Baton Rouge, LA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Deacon James Lockwood:
According to media reports, in 1978, Deacon James Lockwood was arrested on charges of committing aggravated crimes against nature involving two 11-year-old boys and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was removed from ministry that year. The boys had been living at Burton Memorial Boys Home in New Orleans, where Deacon Lockwood was a counselor.
Years after his removal as a deacon, he worked at St. Aloysius in Baton Rouge in 1984. The Diocese of Baton Rouge said he did not present himself as a deacon at the time. He was fired once school officials found out about his history.
In 2010, the Archdiocese of New Orleans paid out a settlement of $80,000 to a man who said that Deacon Lockwood repeatedly raped him as a boy in 1973. The alleged abuse occurred at Hope Haven orphanage in Marrero. He was placed there by his mother because she couldn’t afford to take care of him. According to the Archdiocese, the orphanage was not a pastoral assignment. Deacon Lockwood worked there as a volunteer social worker.
“He molested me, sodomized me, he took me to several churches and he put me on the altar and he sodomized me,” the alleged victim said. “People will say why didn’t you say anything well I was scared to death to say anything and who’s going to believe a 12 year old.”
In November 2018, Deacon Lockwood’s name appeared publicly on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. In March 2019, his name also appeared on the Diocese of Baton Rouge’s list of clergy credibly accused of child sex abuse. He is currently in his mid-80s and living in New Orleans.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese.
Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].