Louisiana ‘Vos estis’ complaint remains unanswered
A whistleblower in the Diocese of Baton Rouge alleges that diocesan officials failed to properly address claims of sexual misconduct by a priest, including inappropriate behavior toward an adult and alleged admissions of past abuse of minors. The complaint was filed under the Vatican's 'Vos estis lux mundi' policy, but no response has been received from the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops within the mandated 30-day period. The accused priest denies all allegations, and the diocese has not publicly announced the investigation or removed the priest from ministry.
- ▪A Catholic man in the Diocese of Baton Rouge reported that Fr. Charbel Jamhoury engaged in inappropriate conduct and allegedly admitted to sexual contact with minors.
- ▪The whistleblower filed a complaint through the U.S. bishops’ third-party system, but the Archdiocese of New Orleans confirmed it has not received guidance from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops.
- ▪Under 'Vos estis lux mundi,' the Dicastery is required to provide instructions on how to proceed within 30 days of receiving a complaint, a deadline that has passed without action.
- ▪Fr. Jamhoury denies all allegations, including initiating sexual contact or discussing past abuse of minors, and claimed instead that the man was 'abusing' him.
- ▪The priest has not been removed from ministry, and the diocese has provided minimal communication to the complainant and his family during the ongoing investigation.
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News—diocese of baton rougeLouisiana ‘Vos estis’ complaint remains unansweredA Baton Rouge whistleblower says the Vatican has not responded to his reportThe PillarMay 01, 2026ShareThe Vatican has not yet responded to a whistleblower complaint in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after local Catholics alleged that diocesan officials did not appropriately address allegations of sexual misconduct against a priest assigned in the diocese, including an alleged admission by the priest of sexual contact with minors — an admission the priest denies.St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge. Credit: Farragutful/wikimedia. CC BY SA 3.0While a local whistleblower filed in February a report with the U.S.
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