Father Joseph Alexander
Diocese of Lafayette
Joined Benedictine Order: 1955
Ordained: 1973
Removed from ministry: 2002
Assignment History
- 1955-1984: St. Maur's Monastery, formerly St. Maur's Priory (South Union, KY)
- 1984-1988: Our Lady of Wisdom (Lafayette, LA)
- 1985-1987: St. Thomas More High School (Lafayette, LA)
- 1987-1988: Holy Rosary Institute (Lafayette, LA)
- 1988-2002: St. Anthony of Padua (Lafayette, LA)
- 2002: St. Edmond Catholic School (Lafayette, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Fr. Joseph Alexander:
Father Joseph Alexander joined the Benedictine Order in 1955 and left in 1984. Alexander was ordained a Catholic priest in 1973 and worked in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette after leaving Kentucky. According to Bishop Accountability, in April 2002, the Diocese of Owensboro (KY) received an allegation of child sexual abuse against Fr. Alexander that occured in the early 1960s in Kentucky while serving as a member of the Benedictine order, while he was still a Benedictine brother before he became a priest.
The abuse occurred at St. Maur's Priory (later St. Mark's) in South Union, KY, while the victim was a teenage student at St. Maur's Preparatory Seminary. St. Maur's Priory and Seminary moved to Indianapolis in 1967 as a result of the efforts of the Catholic Seminary Foundation of Indianapolis, therfore the abuse is believed to have occurred before the school closed in 1965.
At the time the allegation was received, Fr. Alexander was assigned to St. Anthony of Padua in Lafayette, LA. According to the Diocese of Lafayette, "Fr. Alexander has acknowledged his involvement in the behavior of which he is accused." Following the allegation, Fr. Alexander was placed on administrative leave.
According to media reports, on January 28, 2019, an allegation of child sexual abuse against Fr. Alexander was reported to the Eunice Police Department. Alexander was accused of sexually abusing a minor while assigned as a priest at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Eunice, where he served from 1988 to 2002.
In April 2019, Fr. Alexander was listed on the Diocese of Owensboro's list of clergy "against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse has been made."
Fr. Alexander's name is also listed on the Diocese of Lafayette's Disclosure list dated April 2019.
According to the 2017 Official Catholic Directory, Fr. Joseph Alexander is listed as being on "administrative leave." His current whereabouts are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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.