US archbishop secretly backed bid to free priest convicted of raping child

While few Louisianans knew of the clandestine efforts by some in the church to help Melancon win an early release from prison, Portier learned of them by September 2017 because some of the disgraced clergyman's supporters had personally approached him. Portier reported as much in emails to the Houma-Thibodaux diocese. 

The emails collectively described a private investigator showing up at Portier's home near Houma – in the area where he had been abused and where he still lived – "with an old priest … from … New Orleans". He also said the church had somehow found time "to send attorneys" to intercept him at his home, at his job while he was on the clock, and as he attended his uncle's funeral. 

The visitors were "trying to get the priest that raped me out of jail", Portier wrote...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/18/new-orleans-archbishop-gregory-aymond-robert-melancon-catholic-church