Father Kenneth Morvant
Diocese of Lafayette
Ordained: 1961
Died: 2003
Assigned as follows:
- 1961-1966: Cathedral of St. John (Lafayette, LA)
- 1966-1970: St. Anthony of Padua (Eunice, LA)
- 1970: St. Joseph Catholic Church (Rayne, LA)
- 1971-1986: St. Martin de Tours (St. Martinville, LA)
- 1985: St. Elizabeth Church (Coteau, LA)
- 1987-1989: On special assignment
- 1987-1988: St. Bernard Church (Breaux Bridge, LA)
- 1990-1991: St. Joseph Seminary (Washington, D.C.)
- 2000-2003: On special assignment
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Kenneth Morvant:
Fr. Kenneth Morvant was ordained a priest in 1961, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette. According to media reports, in August 2018, a man publicly accused Fr. Kenneth Morvant of child sexual abuse in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The alleged victim was a 9-year-old altar boy at St. Martin de Tours when the abuse began. The abuse continued for several years. The man stated that he knew of at least 45 other victims who had been molested by Fr. Morvant, including his brother and cousin who both died by suicide. This victim along with ten others, identified as “John Doe’s,” filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Lafayette in September of 2018. All the alleged victims were altar boys and many of the incidents occurred in the church rectory during sleepovers.
In December of 2019, five men filed a lawsuit against the Vatican, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and the Diocese of Lafayette. The lawsuit alleges that Fr. Morvant sexually abused the men when they were altar boys at St. Martin de Tours and that it was “common knowledge among Vatican officials that Morvant had a habit of inviting adolescent boys to “sleepovers” where Morvant’s practice was to drug the boys with alcohol and then to rape and sexually abuse them and exploit them.” Both lawsuits are still pending.
Fr. Kenneth Morvant died in 2002 and is buried at St. Martin de Tours in St. Martinville, LA.
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 [email protected] to discuss your options today.