Excommunicated Deacon's Vatican Appeal Remains Unanswered Over a Year Later
Scott Peyton, a former Roman Catholic deacon from Louisiana who was excommunicated after his son was molested by a priest, is still awaiting the outcome of his appeal to Vatican authorities, which was supposed to be resolved more than a year ago. Peyton's canon law attorney, Dawn Eden Goldstein, sent a letter to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on February 3, expressing frustration over the lack of communication and the prolonged delay in his case.
A Family's Trauma and Church Departure
Peyton was ordained as a deacon in the Lafayette diocese in 2012. About six years later, priest Michael Guidry confessed to molesting Peyton's teenage son, Oliver, who served as an altar server. Guidry pleaded guilty and received a seven-year prison sentence, but the diocese faced criticism for hosting a farewell lunch for him, which they later apologized for. In 2021, the Peyton family secured a $350,000 settlement from the diocese in a civil lawsuit. By December 2023, Scott Peyton resigned as a deacon, feeling he no longer fit within the Catholic church, and joined an Anglican congregation.
Excommunication and Appeal Process
In response, Lafayette Bishop J Douglas Deshotel issued a decree on March 13, 2024, excommunicating Peyton immediately, citing his departure from the Catholic church. Deshotel wrote that while he acknowledged the family's trauma, leaving the Eucharist was not the solution. Peyton appealed to the DDF in May 2024, arguing that his excommunication served no pastoral good and harmed the spiritual lives of his wife and six children. The appeal process typically takes three months, but by October 2024, Deshotel notified Peyton that his materials were still under evaluation by the DDF.
Ongoing Delays and Unanswered Inquiries
As of early February, Goldstein's follow-up letter to Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy, the DDF secretary, requesting an update on Peyton's appeal and information on Guidry's canonical status, had received no response. The delay compounds the injustices felt by the Peyton family, who have become advocates for clergy abuse survivors. Notably, Guidry's excommunication status remains unclear, and it is unknown if he has been laicized, as many convicted clergy have been allowed to remain priests.
Broader Context of Clergy Abuse in Lafayette
The Lafayette diocese has a history of clergy abuse cases, including priest Gilbert Gauthe, whose 1985 guilty plea helped bring the crisis to public attention in the US. Recently, the diocese attempted to challenge a 2021 Louisiana law eliminating filing deadlines for child molestation lawsuits, but was unsuccessful. Additionally, on March 5, another Lafayette priest, Korey LaVergne, was charged with felony indecent behavior with a juvenile.
This case highlights ongoing tensions within the Catholic church regarding accountability and pastoral care, as Peyton's appeal continues to languish without resolution, underscoring the challenges faced by abuse survivors and their families in seeking justice and reconciliation.
