Father Gerald Prinz
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Ordained: 1968
Left ministry: 1990
Removed: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- Saint Francis de Sales (Houma, LA)
- Saint Gregory (Houma, LA)
- Saint Louis Bayou Blue, LA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Gerald Prinz:
According to media reports, in a 1995 lawsuit, a man accused Father Gerald Prinz of child sexual abuse in 1973 when he was age 9 and at the St. Louis Church rectory, and in 1978 when he was age 14. At the time, court documents said that he recovered the memories in 1994.
Despite questions about the admissibility of the repressed memory information and theories related to it, the court decided to allow them, and found for the victim. The case was upheld on appeal.
In November 2018, Father Prinz’s name appeared publicly on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. It noted that he was incardinated into the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1977, the year it was created. Officials said he resigned from the priesthood in 1990.
In January 2019, his name appeared on the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s list of clergy credibly accused of child sex abuse. It noted an allegation received in 2002, that he raped a boy in the 1970s, while assigned to St. Gregorys and St. Louis. He was permanently removed from ministry. According to an archdiocesan directory of active and retired priests, his name does not appear.
As of January 2019, Father Prinz lives with his brother in New Orleans, and suffers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
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].