Daijiworld Media Network – Louisiana

Louisiana, Mar 22: A Louisiana man who resigned as a Roman Catholic deacon after a priest molested his son—and was later excommunicated by his local bishop—has approached global Church authorities seeking clarity on the status of his appeal, which remains unresolved more than a year later.

Scott Peyton, who served in the Diocese of Lafayette, has written through his canon law attorney to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), the Vatican office responsible for clerical discipline, requesting an update on his case. In a letter prepared by attorney Dawn Eden Goldstein on February 3, it was stated that while the matter is complex and may require careful consideration, the prolonged silence has compounded the suffering endured by Peyton and his family.

Peyton’s case drew international attention in March 2024, with many observers criticising the severity of his excommunication, particularly as the priest who abused his son did not face a similar penalty under Church law.

Ordained as a deacon in 2012, Peyton served in Louisiana’s Lafayette diocese. About six years later, a priest he worked alongside at St Peter’s Church in Morrow confessed to abusing Peyton’s teenage son, Oliver, who served as an altar boy. The priest, Michael Guidry, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

In 2021, the Peyton family reached a $350,000 settlement with the diocese in a civil case. The family has since become vocal advocates for survivors of clergy abuse. In December 2023, Peyton stepped down from his role as deacon and joined an Anglican congregation.

Subsequently, Lafayette bishop J Douglas Deshotel issued a decree on March 13, 2024, excommunicating Peyton with immediate effect. In his communication, the bishop acknowledged the family’s trauma but stated that leaving the Catholic Church was not the solution.

Excommunication, considered one of the most severe penalties in the Catholic Church, bars individuals from participating in key sacraments. Historically, prominent figures such as Henry VIII, Napoleon Bonaparte and Martin Luther were subjected to similar sanctions.

Peyton formally appealed the decision to the DDF in May 2024, arguing that the punishment served no pastoral purpose and had adversely affected the spiritual lives of his entire family. While such appeals are typically resolved within three months, the process in this case has seen significant delays.

In October 2024, Bishop Deshotel informed Peyton that the appeal was under review by the DDF, following communication from the Vatican office’s secretary, Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy. However, with no final decision communicated so far, Peyton is now urging Church authorities to provide clarity on the outcome of his appeal.