Judge refuses to recuse herself from New Orleans clergy abuse case

Judge had been asked to recuse herself over donations she made to church run by archdiocese that employed admitted child abuser

A federal judge overseeing a request to unseal secret files related to a Roman Catholic priest - and self-confessed predator - won't recuse herself from the case over donations to her church, as a clergy abuse claimant had asked.

New Orleans-based US district court judge Jane Triche Milazzo had been asked to recuse herself by Aaron Hebert, who is pressing a 2019 lawsuit asserting that the admitted clerical child abuser Lawrence Hecker had victimized him decades earlier.

In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International.