BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Diocese of Baton Rouge confirmed a Vatican-authorized investigation is underway into its handling of sexual misconduct allegations against a local priest.
The investigation centers on the diocese’s response to complaints about Father Charbel Jamhoury and his time in the Catholic Church.
The diocese confirmed a Vos Estis investigation has commenced and said appointed delegates were recently in Baton Rouge. Several diocesan officials have been interviewed.
The investigation was authorized last month by the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
The diocese removed Jamhoury as a priest four months ago after a man came forward alleging sexual misconduct by Jamhoury late last year.
The alleged victim sat down with the WAFB I-TEAM, along with whistleblower Luke Zumo, who helped him navigate the process of reporting the behavior, which ultimately led to Jamhoury’s removal.
The investigation is looking into whether the diocese handled the sexual misconduct allegations correctly when they were levied against Jamhoury.
The case started Sept. 27 when an adult male was on church property at St. Isidore in Baker with Jamhoury, who allegedly crossed the line with him.
The man went to the Diocese of Baton Rouge days later, alleging Jamhoury, while on church property, offered him oral sex, a back massage, and touched his lips.
“He detailed a history and a desire of oral sex with minor boys in graphic detail,” Zumo said.
Zumo helped the alleged victim go through the reporting process. Zumo is a longtime friend of the alleged victim, a devout Catholic and a supporter of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
“I will stand before the Lord one day and I will account for the things that I have done and the things that I have not done,” Zumo said. “And I’d like to stand before him and say, Lord, I did your will, even when it came with a cost because he asked us to love without counting the cost.”
The man who alleges misconduct by Jamhoury, along with the whistleblower, both said they were interviewed for over an hour at the Diocese of Baton Rouge last week.
“There can’t really be any expectation as far as when we hear back or if we hear back with any clarity,” Zumo said. “So that is certainly a source of apprehension for me, the possibility that this case could go outside of our local church and potentially the outcome be opaque or unclear — that does give me apprehension and some concern for sure.”
Zumo and the alleged victim said investigators were thorough and showed professionalism during their recent interviews.
Zumo said this has been a nightmare, but doing the right thing and speaking up is something he doesn’t regret.
“The Catholic Church is not merely the institution. The church is the body of Christ, the people,” Zumo said. “And so every step I’ve taken has been out of love for the body of Christ and in obedience to our Lord’s words that say, ‘Whatever you have done to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you’ve done it to me.’”
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is overseeing the investigation, and the findings will be sent to the Vatican.
Once the investigation is complete, Archbishop Checchio of New Orleans has 14 days to send his report to the Vatican.
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