Louisiana deacon Scott Peyton waits for Vatican decision on excommunication appeal after son’s abuse case

Highlights:

• Scott Peyton appealed his excommunication to the Vatican in May 2024
• The case stems from his son’s abuse by a Catholic priest
• Peyton left the church and later received a decree of excommunication
• Canon lawyers disagree on whether the penalty was justified
• The Vatican has yet to issue a final decision

Scott Peyton, a Catholic deacon from Louisiana, has been waiting for nearly two years for a decision from the Vatican regarding his appeal against excommunication. His case, which began after he left the church following his son’s abuse, remains unresolved and continues to draw attention to issues of canon law and pastoral care.

In May 2024, Peyton formally appealed his excommunication to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The outcome could determine whether the penalty was applied correctly and may influence how similar cases are handled in the future.

Peyton converted to Catholicism in 2001 after being raised Methodist. He described his commitment to the faith as intentional, noting that he and his wife, Letitia, built their lives around church teachings. Their family grew to six children, and they became deeply involved in parish life. Peyton also wrote that he reversed a vasectomy to align with Catholic teachings on family and sexuality.

In 2007, Peyton said he felt called to the permanent diaconate. He was ordained in 2012 and assigned to St. Peter Catholic Church in Morrow, Louisiana, where his family had been parishioners. The parish was small and close-knit, and the family developed a strong relationship with their pastor, Fr. Michael Guidry.

According to Peyton, Guidry was closely involved with the family, often inviting them to meals and allowing his sons to spend time at his home. He later wrote, “Because we had great regard for the office of the priesthood and had great trust in Father Guidry personally, it never occurred to any of us that he might be grooming our family for the purpose of committing child molestation.”

In May 2018, Peyton’s son disclosed that Guidry had given him alcohol and molested him three years earlier. Peyton reported the allegation to law enforcement the next day. Police interviewed Guidry and initially admitted to inappropriate conduct, but he was not arrested immediately.

Peyton also reported the allegation to the Diocese of Lafayette. He said the diocese initially appeared supportive, but that changed quickly. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel publicly announced the allegation during parish Masses on June 2, 2018, the same day as Peyton’s older son’s wedding. Peyton said this disclosure made the family identifiable in their community.

“I cannot emphasize strongly enough how distressing the diocese's timing of the announcement, and the bishop's breaching the victim's anonymity, was for my family,” Peyton wrote. He said the announcement exposed them to public attention before they had informed relatives.

During a June 4 press conference, Deshotel said, “First we let the civil authorities determine through their investigation exactly what happened, and if it was criminal or not. If it was not, then Father can be restored and his good name restored also.” Peyton argued that this created doubt about the allegation’s credibility.

Guidry was later arrested and ultimately sentenced to prison. However, Peyton said that support within the parish remained with the priest. He described isolation and strained relationships, writing that only a small number of fellow deacons continued to support him.

In August 2018, Peyton and his family filed a civil lawsuit against Guidry and the diocese. He said he was warned that he might be removed from the clerical state after filing. “At that rate, I would be removed from the clerical state before the priest who molested my son,” he wrote.

The case was settled in 2021. The diocese acknowledged the allegations as credible and removed Guidry from ministry. Peyton said the apology did not address the broader impact on his family. After the settlement, the diocese stopped paying for counseling.

Peyton continued serving as a deacon for some time, but tensions grew. He described attending Mass as painful, saying, “We were simply going to check the boxes. Everything in there reminded us of why we were in the situation.” Eventually, his family began attending an Anglican congregation.

In December 2023, Peyton formally resigned from the ministry. He said the bishop’s initial response was understanding. However, in March 2024, he received an excommunication decree. “It was kind of one of these things that go like, 'You can't quit, we fire you,' ” he said.

Canon lawyer Dawn Eden Goldstein, who represents Peyton, argued the decision was unwarranted and harmful. “I was appalled by what I saw as a total pastoral failure on the part of the diocese,” she said. She maintained that Peyton’s actions did not justify such a penalty.

Another canon lawyer, Nicholas Cafardi, said the issue centers on schism, which can lead to automatic excommunication under canon law. He explained that such penalties are considered corrective rather than punitive.

Goldstein disagreed, arguing that Peyton’s departure should be viewed in light of the circumstances. She wrote that the penalty “has the appearance of a punishment for his successfully suing the Diocese of Lafayette, and it is causing grave harm to his family.”

Peyton said he never intended to break from the church. “That was never the case,” he said. He emphasized that his resignation was meant to step away without triggering a penalty.

As the appeal remains unresolved, Peyton continues to wait for a decision. “Two years of dragging this on, I want to know where Rome stands,” he said. “I want Rome to answer.”