Fr. Jonathan W. Franklin
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1956
Removed: 1959
Death: Unknown
Assigned as Follows:
- Ascension of Our Lord (Donaldsonville, LA)
- St. Gabriel (New Orleans, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Jonathan Franklin:
Father Jonathan Franklin was ordained as a Benedictine order priest and worked under the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. He also served under the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and was included on their 2018 clergy report regarding sexual abuse of minors. According to the list, the allegation against Father Franklin was received in 1959, and referred to abuse that occurred in the late 1950’s. It also notes that Franklin was removed the year the allegation was received.
Jonathan Franklin then moved to St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama in 1975. A decade later, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy in 1985 when he was temporarily assigned to St. Anne’s in Pensacola, Florida.
According to bishopaccountability.com, John Franklin has had multiple allegations of abuse made against him that stretch over three decades. He worked at several locations in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama during his priesthood. He has also been accused specifically of abuse in Louisiana in 1966 that eventually settled in 2005.
Jonathan Franklin committed suicide in August of 1986, just before his trial for sexually assaulting the 12-year-old boy was about to begin.
John W. Franklin has been included on the Baton Rouge diocese’s list in 2019, Birmingham diocese’s list as of December 14th, 2018 and the Alexandria diocese list on February 6th, 2019 as well.
In April of 2020, the Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of its bankruptcy, the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be reviewing and paying claims for anyone sexually abused by diocesan priests and lay employees. This will likely include claims filed on behalf of anyone whose case may be beyond the statute of limitations.
John W. Franklin has been listed as deceased, but the specific date/year of death is unknown.
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]