Diocese: Late priest accused of child sex abuse

Claire Taylor | The Daily Advertiser

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Allegations of child sex abuse have been raised against a deceased priest from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.

Diocesan spokeswoman Blue Rolfes, in a written statement released Tuesday, said the diocese was made aware of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by the late Rev. Kenneth Morvant.

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"There is no evidence of Father Morvant being implicated in the abuse of minors," Rolfes wrote. "These allegations, however, are being given appropriate consideration. Father Kenneth Morvant, though deceased, maintains the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise."

The alleged incidents, she wrote, occurred 35 to 40 years ago, which would have been between 1978 and 1983.

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Morvant served as a priest in the Diocese of Lafayette 42 years, from 1961 until 2003. He died Dec. 13, 2003, at the age of 72 at his Carencro residence.

A native of Abbeville, Morvant was ordained June 3, 1961, at the Cathedral of St. John in Lafayette, where he served as an associate pastor until 1966, The Daily Advertiser reported upon his death.

He was pastor at several church parishes in the diocese, including Eunice, Rayne, Coteau Homes and at St. Martin de Tours church in St. Martinville.

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