New Orleans archbishop testifies under oath for first time in church bankruptcy case | New Orleans clergy abuse

As the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans nears a proposed settlement worth at least $230 million with survivors of clergy abuse, outgoing archbishop Gregory Aymond testified under oath for the first time in the church’s bankruptcy case at a secret court hearing Friday.

Aymond’s affidavit was placed under a protective order and those in attendance were barred from discussing the matter. But Billy Gibbens, a high-profile criminal defense and civil attorney, confirmed he was present in an interview with WWL Louisiana, representing the archbishop as his personal attorney.

Gibbens declined to say how long he had represented Aymond.

Bill Kearney, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said Gibbens had personally represented the archbishop “for at least the last few years.”

He said the church did not pay for the services of Gibbens, whose clients in recent years included rapper BG during a case involving federal probation granted to the singer after gun-related charges; Blake Bailey, whose biography of Philip Roth was removed from print by its original publisher following allegations of uncharged rape and other sexual abuse; and former Louisiana sheriff Jack TensionA person convicted of rape and incest.

Kearney confirmed that Gibbens was with Aymond at the archdiocesan offices in April 2024, when Louisiana state police executed a search warrant as part of a sex trafficking investigation focused on the archdiocese. But Kearney said Gibbens’ representation to the archdiocese was not relevant to the state police investigation.

Gibbens’ law partner, Kyle Schonekas, is doing separate legal work for the archdiocese, Kearney said. Court records show Schonekas represented Aymond in the archdiocese’s effort to quash a subpoena for him to testify in a separate sexual abuse case against a priest in Houma, Louisiana, southwest of New Orleans.

The fees paid to Gibbens and Schonekas are not counted among the fees paid to attorneys and other professionals in the bankruptcy case. Court documents show the church’s expenses for these bankruptcy attorneys and professionals should reach $55 million by December, when the case is expected to be concluded.

This amount is separate from the $230 million included in the pending bankruptcy settlement. Those who allege clergy abuse have until Oct. 29 to vote on whether to accept the settlement.

The archbishop’s deposition on Friday came five and a half years after he was scheduled to testify in a clergy sexual abuse case in May 2020. That testimony was effectively blocked by the archdiocese’s filing for federal bankruptcy protection on May 1, 2020, which halted 34 pending sexual abuse cases from advancing in state courts.

Pope Leo XIV selected Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, as Aymond’s eventual successor in late September. The mission given to Checchio by the Pope positioned him to initially assist Aymond and then replace him when he retired in the coming months.