Father Luis J. Fernandez
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1971
Retired: 2003
Assignment History:
- St. John Vianney Prep in (New Orleans, LA)
- 1985 St. Christopher the Martyr (Metairie, LA)
- 1985-1989 Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Kenner, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Luis J. Fernandez:
In 2007, Fr. Luis J. Fernandez was accused of sexually abusing a minor in the mid-1970s at St. John Vianney Prep in New Orleans, Louisiana along with Fr. Robert Cooper when he was a student there.
According to media reports, Fernandez became close with the boy and his family and received permission to take the 15-year-old boy to a concert and then spend the night at Fernandez’s rectory apartment in 1976.
That night, the victim woke up to see his pants and underwear were pulled down with Fernandez right there.
According to media reports, the Archdiocese of New Orleans offered to pay for the victim’s therapy.
In 1978, Fernandez left New Orleans to be a military chaplain, returning to parish work in 1985.
In 2020, a second accuser came forward with allegations against Fernandez that he abused the victim in the 1980s. Information about the age/gender of his alleged victim, the nature of the alleged sexual abuse, or Fernandez’s assignments at the time of the alleged abuse is unknown.
In 2003, Fernandez retired in Miami, FL where he was last known to be living.
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.
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].