Father Patrick Sanders
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Ordained: 1990
Removed: 2005
Assigned as follows:
- St. Frances Cabrini Parish (New Orleans, LA)
- Resurrection of Our Lord (New Orleans, LA)
- St. Angela Merici (Metairie, LA)
- St. Peter (Reserve, LA)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Belle Chasse, LA)
- St. Thomas (Pointe-a-la-Hache, LA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Patrick Sanders:
According to media reports, in April 2004, Father Patrick Sanders was placed on leave from his position as Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Belle Chasse, when two men came forward alleging that he sexually abused them on an overnight youth trip to Biloxi Mississippi in 1993, when they were age 16. The priest, who was serving as the vicar of Resurrection of Our Lord at the time, denied any wrongdoing.
In April 2005, Archbishop Alfred Hughes announced that Father Sanders had been permanently removed from ministry after a detailed inquiry into the youths’ claims was conducted and three administrative hearing officers said they believed he committed the abuse.
Father Sanders was technically not charged with abuse of a minor because at the time of the alleged offense, church law defined minors as those under age 16. Shortly after, the church raised the age of majority, or age of consent to 18. No civil case was ever filed.
In November 2018, his name appeared publicly on the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
After his removal from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sanders became an attorney. He managed a personal injury firm in Algiers, Louisiana, until a news reporter tracked him down after the 2018 list was published. He continued to practice law until mid-2021, when he surrendered his law license. According to the Louisiana Bar, Sanders faced multiple disciplinary charges for lying or otherwise failing to disclose information to the bar, including that he had been fired from OLPH and had been arrested for drug possession. A bar investigation also found that he may have engaged in other unethical conduct regarding trust account management and conflicts of interest as well.
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].