NEW ORLEANS — The Archbishop of New Orleans has denied accusations that he dismissed key leaders at a local food bank due to their refusal to redirect millions of dollars for clergy sexual abuse lawsuits. This claim came to light after two of the food bank’s board members were removed last week.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond stated in a recent video that the claims of diverting money from the hungry are incorrect. He explained that he has the authority to appoint and remove board members and executives of the Second Harvest Food Bank. The food bank serves a vital role, distributing over 39 million pounds of food annually to families in South Louisiana.
The controversy began when CEO Natalie Jayroe, who had been with the organization for almost two decades, was let go. Former board chair Bert Wilson noted that Jayroe refused to support plans to allocate up to $16 million from the food bank’s funds for the church’s ongoing bankruptcy negotiations with abuse survivors. Wilson expressed understanding for the survivors but insisted that taking money from the food bank would violate donor agreements.
In his video statement, Aymond claimed that discussions around the $16 million were not about stealing from the food bank but rather about purchasing church assets to allow the food bank to operate independently. He stated that the CEO and board members were terminated because they did not sign a legal agreement necessary for the bankruptcy process.
However, fired board member Nick Karl challenged Aymond’s claims, stating that the deadline for the agreement was set for May 1, rather than January 31, and that the food bank’s team was still reviewing it. Karl suggested that the swift terminations indicated deeper motivations within the archdiocese.
Following the dismissals, Aymond appointed the archdiocese’s chief financial officer as the interim CEO and announced new board members. They emphasized that the food bank’s mission to alleviate hunger would remain the priority.
While assurances were given that funds would solely be used for food security, a survivor of clergy abuse questioned whether the archbishop would prevent future access to food bank assets for settling abuse claims. The church is under scrutiny for its handling of abuse allegations and has sold significant properties to fund settlements.
The situation continues to develop, as both sides navigate a complex landscape involving community support and legal obligations.
