The Diocese of Lafayette made public its list of clergy credibly accused of sexual assault on its website Friday afternoon, with several priests from the Teche Area included.

The list covers 33 priests and four deacons, with dates of ordination going back to 1934. Included on the list are Gilbert John Gauthé, who was convicted of multiple counts of aggravated crime against nature, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles and pornography involving juveniles in 1985, and Robie Robichaux, who is currently on leave after being accused of sex abuse while serving in Iberia Parish.

Gauthé was the first priest in the Diocese of Lafayette to be publicly accused, in 1983. Robichaux was accused in the 1970s, but was not removed from his position as the Diocese’s Judicial Vicar until 2018 after the victim reported it for the third time and a second victim came forward. No criminal have been filed yet, but the New Iberia Police has an investigation open.

In a letter the Diocese released Wednesday, Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel said the credibly accused list will grow if further credible complaints are discovered.

“The future receipt and subsequent determination of any new credible allegation against a priest or deacon, living or dead, will result in adding his name to the disclosure list,” Deshotel said in his letter.

Those who served in the Teche Area on the list include:

• Stanley Begnaud, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia. Begneaud retired in 1982, and died in 1985.
• Michael Benedict, who served at St. Peter in New Iberia. He retired in 1979 and died in 1998.
• David Anderson Coupar, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia, Our Lady of Victory in Loreauville and Catholic High in New Iberia. He resigned in 1994.
• Herbert DeLaunay, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia and St. Bernadette in Bayou Vista. He was removed in 1999.
• John deLeeuw, who served at St. Martin de Tours in St. Martinville. He retired in 1986, was removed in 2011 and died in 2015.
• Ronald Lane Fontenot, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baldwin. He was removed and resigned in 1984 and died in 2014.
• Gilbert John Gauthé, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia. He was removed and resigned in 1983 and was convicted in 1985.
• Michael Guidry, who served at St. Joseph in Patterson, St. Jules in Franklin, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baldwin, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Franklin, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia. He was removed in 2018 and convicted in 2019.
• Lloyd Hebert, who served at St. Peter in New Iberia. He was removed in 1985 and died in 2004.
• Michael Herpin, who served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Iberia and Our Lady of Mercy in Henderson. He was removed in 2002.
• Robert Limoges, who served at Our Lady of Victory in Loreauville. He went on leave and was removed in 1984.
• Keith Anthony Potier, who served at Our Lady of Victory in Loreauville. He resigned in 1981 and died in 2009.
• Robie Robichaux, who served at St. Peter in New Iberia on two separate occasions. He was removed in 2018.
• Jody Simoneaux, who served at St. John the Evangelist in Jeanerette. He was removed in 2018.
• Adrian Walter Van Hal, who served at St. John the Evangelist in Jeanerette. He died in 1970.
• Leonard J. Freyou, who served as a deacon at St. Nicholas in Lydia. He died in 2006.

The list contains the name of the accused, their date of birth, a list of his assignments and posts held, and their current status, including when they were removed from the ministry.

“The inclusion of the names of some of the clergy may be for their family and friends a shock and a surprise,” Deshotel wrote. “I deeply regret that this process may cause you pain and wonderment. Know that each case was treated seriously because, in all cases, lives and the good name of a person were at stake.”

The cry for the release of the names of credibly accused clergy became louder as other Diocese across the country released their list of accused clergy. The Diocese of Lafayette said in October that the list was being compiled, but that it may take some time.

The full list can be found on the Diocese’s website, https://diolaf.org.

33: Priests that the Diocese of Lafayette named as “credibly accused” of sexual assault.

4: Deacons named in the list of clergy accused of sexual assault on the Diocese of Lafayette website.

16: Clergy named on the list who served in the Teche Area, including parishes in New Iberia, St. Martinville, Jeanerette, Loreauville, Lydia, Franklin and Baldwin.