Henry Charles Bezou
Ordained: 1938
Monsignor Henry C. Bezou was superintendent of the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ schools from 1943 to 1968. He also pastored St. Patrick Church of New Orleans from 1951 to 1965, Our Lady Star of the Sea of New Orleans from 1965 to 1967, and St. Francis Xavier of Metairie from 1967 to 1983. He also served as spiritual director of the Ozanam Inn homeless shelter from 1955 to 1965. He died in 1989.
In 2019, the Archdiocese settled claims accusing Bezou of sexual abuse of a minor of George Bertucci, a former altar boy at St. Francis Xavier. Bertucci alleged that in 1977, he was called into the sacristy to speak with Bezou, where he witnessed other altar boys touching themselves inappropriately in Bezou’s presence. According to Bertucci, Bezou told the other boys to leave and, once alone, raped Bertucci.
Although the Archdiocese settled Bertucci’s claims regarding Bezou, it declined to add him to its 2018 list of clergy accused of sexual abuse.
Henry Charles Bezou's Assignments
| Placement | City/State | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| “Normal School” | Houma, LA | Prior to 1943 |
| Superintendent of Archdiocese Schools | New Orleans, LA | 1943 - 1968 |
| St. Patrick Church | New Orleans, LA | 1951 - 1965 |
| Our Lady Star of the Sea | New Orleans, LA | 1965 - 1967 |
| St. Francis Xavier | Metairie, LA | 1967 - 1983 |
| Ozanam Inn | New Orleans, LA | 1955 - 1965 |