Father Lawrence Hecker
Diocese of Baton Rouge
Ordained: 1958
Removed: 2002
Assigned as Follows:
- St. Frances Cabrini (New Orleans, LA)
- Christ the King (Terrytown, LA)
- Holy Family (Luling, LA)
- Holy Rosary (New Orleans, LA)
- Our Lady of Lourdes (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Anthony (Luling, LA)
- St. Bernadette (Houma, LA)
- St. Francis Xavier (Metairie, LA)
- St. Joseph (Gretna, LA)
- St. Louise de Marillac (Arabi, LA)
- St. Mary (New Roads, LA)
- St. Theresa of Child Jesus (New Orleans, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Lawrence Hecker:
Fr. Lawrence Hecker was ordained a priest in 1958, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. According to media reports, the Archdiocese of New Orleans released a list in November 2018 that included priests and clergy members who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor at some point during their time with the diocese. Fr. Hecker was included on the list for sexual abuse that was reported in 1996 due to alleged abuse that occurred in the late 1960’s and 1970’s.
Fr. Hecker was removed from active ministry in 2002.
In April 2019, Fr. Hecker was accused of sexual misconduct again when a group of boys filed a lawsuit claiming Fr. Hecker had fondled all of them at St. Joseph’s in Gretna in 1968. The lawsuit accused Hecker of lining the boys up shoulder-to-shoulder, ordering them to drop their pants and showing them “what it was like to get a hernia exam” by groping the children’s genitals.
Fr. Hecker has also been included on the Baton Rouge diocese’s list of clergy members credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor as of early 2019. Father Hecker worked for both the New Orleans diocese and the Baton Rouge diocese during his career.
In April 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.
Fr. Hecker and other clerics who were defrocked as a result of sex abuse allegations also appeared on a list of retired priests for whom the New Orleans archdiocese was collecting money. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has said a removal from ministry, or defrocking, is not a full-fledged exile from the church, and they are legally obligated to pay priests their share of the pension plan if they contributed to it before retiring.
According to media reports dated March 2020, Lawrence Hecker is living in an apartment in New Orleans.
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.