Credibly Accused

Search lists of U.S. Catholic clergy that have been deemed credibly accused of sexual abuse or misconduct.

Published Jan. 28, 2020

This database was last updated in January 2020 and should only be used as a historical snapshot of the lists published by dioceses and religious orders. There may be changes to those records that are not reflected here.

If you find an error in the data or would like to suggest changes, contact us.

Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana, Louisiana

Michael Benedict

Status: Retired, 1979; deceased, 1998

Appeared under the heading: “Priests Against Whom Credible Accusations Have Been Made Regarding Sexual Abuse Of A Minor Or Vulnerable Adult”

Birth Year: 1915

Ordination year: 1943

Reported assignment history:

Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Lafayette Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale
St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
St. Peter, New Iberia
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mire Most Holy Sacrament Convent, Lafayette

If you find an error in the data or would like to suggest changes, contact us.

Sources: U.S Catholic dioceses and religious orders, ProPublica reporting, Pontifical Yearbook (2019)

Data entry by: Tatyana Bellamy-Walker, Grace Haley, Samantha Maldonado, Spencer Norris, Anna Pouza, Lilia Saul

You can download this complete dataset at the ProPublica Data Store.