New Orleans archdiocese is target of child sex-trafficking inquiry, officials say

Louisiana state police recently served sweeping and unprecedented search warrant

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans is the target of an active child sex-trafficking investigation, according to a sweeping and unprecedented search warrant Louisiana state police recently served on an organization that for decades has been submerged in the global church's clergy molestation scandal.

The clerk at the state criminal courthouse where the warrant was signed released the 11-page document on Tuesday. It makes clear that troopers involved in a pending rape prosecution against one priest came to suspect that that case was part of a broader pattern of widespread sexual abuse of minors dating back decades" that was covered up and not reported to law enforcement".