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St. Thomas More High investigating inappropriate relationship

Posted at 5:48 PM, Jan 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-10 20:06:40-05

The Diocese of Lafayette and St. Thomas More High Catholic School are investigating allegations of an inappropriate relationship between a male “extracurricular moderator” and female student.

The full statement from the diocese on the investigation is below:

St. Thomas More High School and the Diocese of Lafayette are aware of allegations involving an inappropriate relationship between a male St. Thomas More off-campus, extracurricular moderator and a female student.

The school administration immediately initiated an investigation, reporting the allegations to law enforcement authorities, and the moderator has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the criminal investigation.

All entities in the Diocese of Lafayette are committed to upholding protocols stated in the “Safe Environment” program, which includes all Catholic school employees undergoing fingerprinting and criminal background checks.

The Diocese of Lafayette continues to urge anyone who has any information concerning allegations of abuse to report them immediately to law enforcement authorities.

The diocese says that St. Thomas More High School administrators and Diocese of Lafayette officials cannot comment on the ongoing investigation and do not comment on student or personnel issues.

We reached out to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and a spokesman for the office tells us they are “investigating a complaint that originated at St. Thomas More but cannot discuss details regarding an ongoing investigation.”

The Lafayette Police Department says they do not have any reports from the school.