Father James Kircher
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1963
Removed: 1987
Laicized: 1998
Died: 2007
Assigned as follows:
- St. Benedict the Moor (Indianola, MS)
- Sacred Heart (Canton, MS)
- St. Mary (Shelby, MS)
- St. Therese (Jackson, MS)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Lumberton, MS)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Greenwood, MS)
- St. Paul (Vicksburg, MS)
- St. Julian Eymard (Algiers, LA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father James Kircher:
Father James Kircher was a priest of the Diocese of Jackson, MS in residence at the St. Julian Eymard in Algiers in the 1970s. According to media reports, in 1987, he was suspended for misconduct, and retired in 1991. He was laicized in 1998.
In February 2002, he was named in a lawsuit filed by four Mississippi men who alleged that they were sexually abused by Father Kircher beginning in the mid-1970s and continuing through 1984. Two of the plaintiffs had previously settled with the Diocese in 1994. The judge dismissed the portions of the suit referencing the two who had settled, but allowed the two new plaintiffs’ case to go forward, saying in one order that the church hierarchy was “involved in a cover-up of massive proportions.”
Father Kircher died in 2007 at age 76.
In November 2018, his name appeared publicly on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. It noted an allegation of abuse in the 1970s was received in 2010.
In March 2019, his name also appeared on the Diocese of Jackson’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. It noted allegations of abuse from 1978 through 1982 were received in 1986 and 2002.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in April 2020. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss your legal options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the New Orleans Archdiocese.
Very strict filing deadlines will soon be set by the Bankruptcy Court. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss this deadline, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected].