Fr. Lawrence Dark
Diocese of Baton Rouge
Ordained: 1952
Died: 1984
Assigned as Follows:
- Reynold’s Institute (Ponchatoula, LA)
- Sacred Heart Parish (New Orleans, LA)
- St. George’s College (Santiago, Chile)
- Chaplain at Warren Easton Senior High School (New Orleans, LA)
- William E. Anderson Memorial Boys Town (Ponchatoula, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Lawrence Dark:
Fr. Lawrence Dark was ordained a priest in 1952, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. According to media reports, in on June 12th, 2019, the Congregation of the Holy Cross released a list of priests and brothers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. One name that was added to the list for the first time was Father Lawrence Dark.
The only information that the Order released was that the allegations made against Dark were received in 1994 and 2008 after his death. The list itself states that there are multiple allegations against Lawrence Dark that reportedly occurred in Louisiana sometime during the 1960’s-1970’s. During that time, it was reported that Lawrence Dark was opening the Reynold Institute in New Orleans and then moved the growing facility to Albany in 1977. This was a mission to establish homes for wayward boys in Louisiana. Eventually the home expanded again and became William E. Anderson Memorial Boys Town: a 60-acre facility located in Ponchatoula.
Fr. Dark’s name was included on the Archdiocese of New Orleans list of credibly accused priests and brothers as of June 2019. According to media reports, in 2020, the Diocese of Baton Rouge also added Dark’s name to its list of credibly accused clergy.
Lawrence Dark died in 1984.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Louisiana, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge may now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Louisiana and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.