Father Valerie Pullman
Diocese of Lake Charles
Ordained: 1965
Left ministry: 1985
Died: 2017
Assigned as follows:
- Our Lady of the Lake (Lake Arthur, LA)
- St. Joseph Catholic Church (Elton, LA)
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (Lafayette, LA)
- St. Martin de Porres (Scott, LA)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Lake Charles, LA)
- Our Lady of Assumption (Carencro, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Valerie Pullman:
Fr. Valerie Pullman was ordained a priest in 1965, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette. He served as Vicar for Black Catholics and on the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. He left active ministry in 1985 and settled in Jennings, LA.
According to 1995 court records, the diocese knew of “reported pedophilia” as early as 1966. Former Bishop Frey admitted in court insurance case documents that he knew of allegations against the priest. Fr. Pullman was sent to St. Luke’s Institute where he was evaluated and referred to the Servants of the Paracletes in Jemez Springs, NM.
According to media reports, in a 2003 civil lawsuit, Fr. Pullman was accused of repeatedly molesting an altar boy beginning in 1972. The abuse lasted several years and occurred in multiple locations including at an out of state religious conference. The lawsuit was settled by 2008. No criminal charges were filed.
In February 2021, the Diocese of Lake Charles publicly named Fr. Pullman on its list of “Clerics and religious who were serving in the Diocese of Lake Charles at the time of the allegation. The diocese was notified of the accusation. The investigation and final disposition of the allegation was the responsibility of the religious order or diocese.” The list notes that allegations of child sexual abuse in the 1970s and 1980s against Fr. Pullman were received in October 1999 and February 2021.
In August 2021, a lawsuit was filed by a man who claimed he was sexually abused by Fr. Pullman when he was a 12-year-old altar boy at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Arthur, LA. Fr. Pullman was the alleged victim’s elementary school religion teacher at St. Maria Goretti Catholic School at the time of the abuse. The alleged abuse occurred at the Fountainebleau Hotel in New Orleans. The victim reported the abuse to Pullman’s superior shortly after the incident occurred, and Fr. Pullman was transferred to another church.
Valerie Pullman never faced criminal charges. He died in 2017.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles 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.