The Vatican has signed off on a formal investigation into the Diocese of Baton Rouge and how its leaders handled allegations against Father Charbel Jamhoury, who was removed earlier this year as pastor of St. Isidore the Farmer in Baker. The probe follows reports that a diocesan volunteer raised concerns that a parishioner was sexually coerced and that Jamhoury allegedly admitted past sexual contact with minors. Many local Catholics say diocesan officials have not given them the full story and are pressing for clearer answers.
Vatican Taps New Orleans Archbishop to Lead Inquiry
According to The Pillar, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops has authorized New Orleans Archbishop James Checchio to investigate a mid‑February complaint filed through the U.S. bishops’ reporting system. The outlet reports that the investigator was given roughly 50 days to carry out the inquiry, with about two more weeks to send the findings to Rome.
Diocese Says It Followed Protocol, Sent Priest for Evaluation
Local reporting indicates the case traces back to a September 2025 report that alleged inappropriate boundary violations. As outlined by WBRZ, the diocese says it received a complaint in October, hired an independent investigator and then announced the weekend of Dec. 27–28, 2025 that Father Jamhoury would step away from ministry for a health evaluation outside the diocese.
A February 10 statement from the chancery said the diocese “mandates that all suspected abuse be reported to the proper civil authority” and that, after interviews with law enforcement and a full health assessment, Bishop Michael Duca removed Father Jamhoury as pastor effective immediately. The statement added that “no allegations of physical sexual abuse or criminal activity have been reported” to diocesan officials and appealed for patience as due diligence continued (see the Diocesan statement issued Feb. 10).
Whistleblower Says Bishop Tried to Head Off Call to Cops
Luke Zumo, a diocesan volunteer, told The Pillar that he filed the mid‑February complaint after the alleged victim reported the September contact. Zumo says that when he phoned the sheriff’s office on Dec. 17, 2025, Bishop Duca called him and said, “Luke, you don't need to call law enforcement - you're just going to muddy the waters.” Zumo says he then submitted a report to the U.S. bishops' Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service, asking that the metropolitan archbishop be assigned to investigate.
What Vos estis Actually Requires
Pope Francis’ norms in “Vos estis lux mundi” spell out the process for handling reports about bishops and for appointing a metropolitan to investigate. The text calls on the competent dicastery to issue instructions promptly, typically within 30 days. It explains how metropolitans gather information, access records and send their findings to Rome, which is why an outside archbishop rather than the diocesan bishop is now handling the case. The full norms are available from the Vatican.
What Comes Next for Families and the Diocese
The Diocese of Baton Rouge told local reporters it was not aware of a Vatican investigation at the time of those reports, and officials in the Archdiocese of New Orleans had not issued broad public comment as questions circulated. As Archbishop Checchio (if formally assigned) and the Dicastery for Bishops move ahead, parishioners are left wondering whether civil authorities will open or expand any parallel inquiries and when the diocese will release clearer, verifiable updates for families in Baker and across the region.
