Ex-Priest Lawrence Hecker Pleads Guilty to Multiple Abuse Charges
The star witness in a clerical molestation case that has rocked one of the most Catholic cities in the U.S. was set to testify that his high school principal forced him to see a psychiatrist for “anger issues and fantasy stories”—or face expulsion—after reporting that a priest had raped him on campus.
Such shocking testimony was expected in a criminal trial against 93-year-old Lawrence Hecker, but the trial was abruptly upended when Hecker pleaded guilty to charges of child rape and kidnapping, ensuring a mandatory life sentence.
The comprehensive account prepared by state prosecutors in New Orleans revealed the compelling details of the case against Hecker, who had long benefited from a complex cover-up orchestrated by his church superiors.
Court documents obtained by the Guardian and WWL-TV outline that the victim was approximately 16 years old when Hecker raped him in 1975. Hecker had hired the teen to set up masses at St. Theresa the Little Flower Church, adjacent to St. John Vianney Prep, where Hecker was the principal.
On one occasion, after mass, the teen was in the weight room of St. Theresa’s bell tower when Hecker appeared unannounced. Under the pretense of teaching wrestling moves, Hecker manipulated the situation to position himself behind the boy and put him in a chokehold. Authorities later noted that the teen lost consciousness during the assault.
After regaining consciousness, the teen discarded his soiled shorts and returned home, where he confided in his mother and later reported the abuse to his principal, Paul Calamari. Calamari’s response was to express anger and demand the boy see a psychiatrist for what he labeled “anger issues and fantasy stories” or face expulsion. Fearing expulsion, the boy complied, believing the church must have funded the therapy as his family couldn’t afford it.
Years later, Hecker’s history of abuse against minors became alarmingly clear. In a 1999 admission to church leaders, Hecker confessed to molesting or sexually harassing multiple children through his ministry, which also included involvement with the Boy Scouts, another organization with a troubling history of abuse.
Despite acknowledging these admissions, the New Orleans Archdiocese allowed Hecker to continue working before he retired with full benefits. The church only informed congregants of allegations against Hecker and Calamari in 2018, long after the victim had first reported the assault.
In 2020, amid a wave of abuse claims, the institution with 500,000 followers sought bankruptcy protection.
Years passed before the justice system addressed the claims against Hecker. The story made headlines again in June 2023 when the Guardian published Hecker’s 1999 admissions, which had been sealed due to church bankruptcy proceedings. Hecker later confirmed to reporters that his written confession about “overtly sexual acts” was accurate but denied having choked or raped anyone.
Under the prosecution of New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, Hecker was indicted on charges of child rape and kidnapping. His trial faced numerous delays, including issues regarding his mental fitness to stand trial.
However, as preparations were underway for the trial to begin, Hecker unexpectedly pleaded guilty on the scheduled trial date. Reports indicated that multiple witnesses were prepared to testify against him for various abuses dating back to the 1960s.
This case highlights the rarity of criminal charges against Catholic clergymen in connection with the longstanding clerical molestation scandal. Richard Trahant, the attorney for the star witness, expressed satisfaction with the plea outcome, noting, “There is no better result the district attorney could have gotten.”
References
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the following organizations:
- In the U.S., call or text the Childhelp Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453 for resources and to report child abuse.
- Adult survivors of child abuse can find help at ASCA Support.
- In the UK, the NSPCC offers support for children at 0800 1111 and for adults concerned about a child at 0808 800 5000.
- The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) provides support for adult survivors at 0808 801 0331.
- In Australia, children and young adults can contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts at 1800 272 831. Adult survivors can reach out to the Blue Knot Foundation at 1300 657 380.
- Additional help can be found at Child Helplines International.
