Father Gilbert Dutel
Diocese of Lafayette
Ordained: 1970
Assigned as follows:
- Sacred Heart Church (Ville Platte, LA)
- Our Lady Queen of All Saints (Ville Platte, LA)
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Abbeville, LA)
- Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Scott, LA)
- St. Thomas More Catholic High School (Lafayette, LA)
- St Edmond Catholic Church (Lafayette, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Gilbert Dutel:
Fr. Gilbert Dutel was ordained a priest in 1970, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette. According to an affidavit used in a lawsuit that the Diocese of Lafayette filed against its insurers, the Diocese of Lafayette was informed of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Fr. Dutel in 1987. The allegation involved the priest coercing adult men to have sex with him. After the allegation was received, Fr. Dutel was assigned to a different parish.
According to media reports, in 1992, another allegation of child sexual abuse against Fr. Dutel in the 1970s was received. The alleged victim was 9 years old at the time of the abuse, which was said to have occurred when Dutel was assigned to St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Abbeville, LA.
According to media reports, a third allegation of sexual misconduct was made in 1993 by the father who claims his 8–9-year-old son was abused by Fr. Dutel in the late 1960’s, which was prior to Dutel’s ordination.
Father Gilbert Dutel was the pastor of St. Edmond Catholic Church as late as 2019. His current whereabouts are unknown.
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