Gerard Louis Frey
Gerard Louis Frey | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Lafayette | |
 | |
| See | Diocese of Lafayette |
| In office | 1967-1989 |
| Predecessor | Maurice Schexnayder |
| Successor | Harry Flynn |
| Other post(s) | Diocese of Savannah(1967–1972) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 2, 1938 byJoseph Francis Rummel |
| Consecration | August 8, 1968 byPhilip Hannan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 10, 1914 |
| Died | August 16, 2007(aged 93) New Iberia, Louisiana,US |
| Buried | Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Andrew Francis and Marie Theresa (née DeRose) Frey |
| Education | St. Joseph College Seminary Notre Dame Seminary |
| Motto | Serviam(I will serve) |
| Coat of arms | |
Gerard Louis Frey(May 10, 1914 – August 16, 2007) was an Americanprelateof theRoman Catholic Church.He served as thebishopof theDiocese of Savannahin Georgia (1967–1972) and theDiocese of Lafayette in Louisiana(1972–1989).
Biography
[edit]Early life and education
[edit]One of nine children, Gerard Frey was born on May 10, 1914, inNew Orleans,Louisiana,to Andrew Francis and Marie Theresa (née DeRose) Frey.[1]Two of his brothers also entered thepriesthood.[2]After attending St. Vincent de Paul School, Frey studied atSt. Joseph College Seminaryin Saint Benedict, Louisiana, from 1928 to 1932.[1]He then enteredNotre Dame Seminaryin New Orleans, where he completed histheologicalstudies.[1]
Ordination and ministry
[edit]Frey wasordaineda priest by ArchbishopJoseph Rummelfor theArchdiocese of New Orleanson April 2, 1938.[3][better source needed]He then served as acurateat Holy Rosary Parish inTaft, Louisiana,until 1946, when he became director of the archdiocesanConfraternity of Christian Doctrine.[1]While serving as director, he resided at St. Leo the Great Church in New Orleans.[1]
Frey was named apapal chamberlainbyPope Pius XIIin 1949, and was appointedpastorofSt. Frances Cabrini Parishat New Orleans in 1952.[1]He was named adomestic prelateby the Vatican in 1954.[1]Frey attended theSecond Vatican Councilin Rome from 1962 to 1965 as a pastoral representative.[4]He was later made pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish inHouma, Louisiana.[4]
Bishop of Savannah
[edit]On May 31, 1967, Frey was appointed the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Savannah byPope Paul VI.[3][better source needed]He received his episcopalconsecrationon August 8, 1967, from ArchbishopPhilip Hannan,with BishopsCharles GrecoandRobert Tracyserving asco-consecrators.[3][better source needed]He selected as his episcopalmotto:Serviam(Latin:"I will serve" ).[5]
During his tenure, Frey launched the Social Apostolate, a social service agency designed "to put people in the pews in touch with the poor."[6]He also encouraged every church in the diocese to establish aparish council.[6]
Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana
[edit]On November 7, 1972, Frey was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana by Paul VI.[3][better source needed]During his tenure, he initiated reorganization plans that increased and expanded participation by clergy,religious,andlaityin diocesan affairs.[7]He also named the first woman to serve aschancellorof a Catholic diocese in the United States.[4]In 1987, he opened a diocesansynod.[4]
Frey was the bishop of Lafayette when the diocese and the Catholic Church faced the first wave of civil suits seeking compensation and treatment for abused children. In a legal deposition, Frey admitted to confrontingGilbert Gauthe,a diocesan priest, about sexual abuse accusations in 1974. According to Frey, Gauthe admitted being guilty of "imprudent touches" with a boy and promised that it was an isolated instance that would not recur. In 1975, Frey appointed Gauthe as chaplain of the diocesan Boy Scouts troop.[8]Gauthe later confessed to sexually abusing 37 children, though he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges byreason of insanity.Gauthe was ultimately criminally convicted in the first sex-abuse case against the Catholic Church.[9]
Retirement and death
[edit]Pope John Paul IIaccepted Frey's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette on May 13, 1989.[3][better source needed]He was succeeded by his coadjutor bishop,Harry Flynn.Frey retired to a family compound inBay St. Louis,Mississippi,which was heavily damaged byHurricane Katrinain 2005.[10]His brother Jerome drove to Bay St. Louis to rescue Frey, returning him to Louisiana.[10]
Frey spent the remainder of his life first at Consolata Nursing Home inNew Iberia, Louisiana,and later in a private home in Lafayette provided by the diocese.[10]Gerard Frey died after a lengthy illness on August 16, 2007, at age 93.[4]He is buried in thecryptof theCathedral of Saint John the Evangelistin Lafayette.[4]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgCurtis, Georgina Pell (1961).The American Catholic Who's Who.Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
- ^"Louis Andrew Frey".Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home.[permanent dead link]
- ^abcde"Bishop Gerard Louis Frey".Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^abcdef"BISHOP GERARD FREY, THIRD BISHOP OF LAFAYETTE DIES AT 93".Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Retired Bishop Frey of Lafayette, La., dead at 93".Catholic News Service.2007-08-17. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-18.
- ^abFelty, Dana Clark (2007-08-18). "Bishop Frey recalled as kind, open to change".The Advocate.
- ^Blanchard, Kevin (2007-08-17). "Former Bishop Frey dies at age 93".The Advocate.
- ^"SEX CHARGES AGAINST PRIEST EMBROIL LOUISIANA PARENTS".The New York Times.1985-06-20.
- ^"Texas town now houses 1st convicted pedophile Priest".USA Today.2013-10-05.
- ^abc"Obituaries".The Tablet.2007-08-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-13.
