Father William G. Allison
Diocese of Alexandria
Ordained: 1948
Status: Sued
Death: 1986 or 1987
Assignment History:
- 1948-1949: Absent on Sick Leave
- 1949-1952: Mater Dolorosa, Plaucheville, LA
- 1952-1955: St. Francis de Sales, Echo, LA
- 1955-1957: Unknown
- 1957-1958: On Duty Outside the Diocese; St. Joseph Cathedral, San Diego, CA
- 1959: Absent on Leave, Servants of the Paraclete, Jemez Springs, NM
- 1960-1961: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flagstaff, AZ; Newman Club, Arizona State College, Flagstaff, AZ
- 1963-1964: Immaculate Conception, Los Angeles, CA
- 1964-1966: St. Joseph's, Capitola, CA
- 1964-1966: Sacred Heart, Villa Maria Mar, CA
- 1964-1966: Resurrection, Aptos, CA
- 1966-1969: Sacred Heart, Fresno, CA
- 1969-1973: Sacred Heart, Avondale, CO
- 1969-1973: St. Joseph's, Huerfano, CO
- 1969-1973: St. William's, Boone, CO
- 1971-1975: Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, Monterey, CA
- 1971-1975: Annunciation, Stephen Place, CA
- 1971-1975: Monterey Peninsula College Newman, Monterey, CA
- 1973-1975: Our Lady of Fatima, Monroe, LA
- 1975-1983: Christ the King, Bossier City, LA
- 1975-1983: Mary, Queen of Peace, Caplis, LA
- 1975-1983: Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Doyline, LA
- 1975-1977: Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, LA
- 1983-1987: St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Alexandria, LA
- 1987: Died
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father William Allison
In January of 2020, a man filed a suit against the Diocese of Shreveport, alleging that as a student and altar boy at Our Lady Fatima in 1973, he was groomed and sexually abused by Fr. William Allison. This allegation came less than a year after the Diocese of Alexandria published its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor, which included an allegation that Fr. Allison abused a male minor in 1961.
2020 Lawsuit and Case Updates
Sources indicate that from 1973 to 1975, Fr. Allison was assigned to Our Lady of Fatima in Monroe, Louisiana. At this time, the Plaintiff says he was a fifth or sixth-grader at the school, as well as an altar boy. According to court documents, Fr. Allison oversaw altar boys and other school children within the church and Parish.
In his complaint, the Plaintiff alleged that grooming began when Fr. Allison would make the Plaintiff feel special by requesting he "carry boxes from the school to the rectory and light [the] candles for mass." Then, according to the Plaintiff, Fr. Allison would ask the Plaintiff to "sit on his lap and have [the Plaintiff] look into the light so that [Fr.] Allison could 'marvel' at the [Plaintiff's] eyes."
The Plaintiff contends that the abuse "quickly progressed" to fondling and "aggressive" lewd activity. When the Plaintiff communicated his desire to quit being an altar boy to a sister in the church, he claims he was reprimanded and "shamed into staying on as an altar boy."
However, after he disclosed his desire to no longer serve as an altar boy, the Plaintiff states the abuse stopped and that Fr. Allison treated the Plaintiff as if he "didn't exist."
For most of his life, the Plaintiff says he kept these incidents secret. It wasn't until he suffered a breakdown and discovered that the Diocese of Alexandria identified Fr. Allison in its list of clergy members credibly accused that the Plaintiff brought suit.
In December of 2020, the case was reassigned to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans after all nine judges in the Louisiana Second Circuit Appeal recused themselves from the case. According to a team of attorneys, there was a conflict with each and every judge for unknown reasons.
1961 Allegations against Father William Allison
In its 2019 list, the Diocese of Alexandria states that in 1961, there was an allegation that Fr. Allison sexually abused a male minor, but the nature and scope of the abuse are not available.
Other Known Allegations
These allegations against Fr. William Allison, however, are not the only ones publicly known. In fact, allegations against Fr. Allison span approximately two decades and three other states, including California, New Mexico, and Arizona.
In 2011, an unnamed man (John Doe) filed a complaint that alleged he was molested by Fr. Allison for a period of 18 months in 1966. The complaint further alleges that it was widely known that from 1963 to 1966, Fr. Allison sexually abused many children in the parishes he worked in.
To support his claims, John Doe first refers to the year Fr. Allison was a patient at Via Coeli Monastery in New Mexico-created in 1947 to treat priests who have sexually abused children-before his assignment to Flagstaff. John Doe also relies on incriminating church documents provided by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup that identified Fr. Allison as a "serial-if not notorious-sexual abuser." These documents also included a letter to the Bishop from Fr. Allison's supervisor saying, "three boys came to me and told me of incidents involving Fr. Allison, and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt their word."
Although other sources mention incidents including Fr. William Allison in 1964, 1966, and 1969, Fr. Allison was not publicly identified by any diocese until 2005, approximately 18 years after his death in 1987. NOTE: Some reports claim Fr. Allison died in 1986.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Alexandria 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 Alexandria 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 adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.