A Roman Catholic priest was arrested in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana Wednesday on 500 counts of child pornography possession, according to a press release from the Diocese of Lafayette. Reverend F. David Broussard, age 50, had served as a pastor for St. Bernard Church for two years before Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel placed him on administrative leave Wednesday. He also oversaw the St. Bernard School, the Acadiana Advocate reported.
The Diocese's press release said it "takes these allegations very seriously and is cooperating fully in every way possible with the investigation." Bishop Deshotel said during a press conference on Wednesday that child pornography "preys on the most vulnerable in our community, and must be vigorously confronted."
Broussard, who has been a priest for 23 years, was taken to St. Martin Parish jail after being arrested and was later released on a $25,000 bond,according to the Associated Press. The Louisiana State Police told Complex over email that there had not been any updates in the case since Wednesday afternoon.
The Acadiana Advocate reported that Deshotel said the church had not been aware of any suspicions or allegations of child pornography against Broussard previously:
Never any complaints to any of us from anyone. In fact he was a much loved pastor, the irony is a very loved man in the parish. [...] No complaints have been made that anything physical or any kind of physical abuse occurred."
Deshotel added, "This kind of an illness hides itself in a person," and reiterated that the Diocese was taking the allegations seriously.
