A Catholic priest, who stepped away from the clergy after serving under two former Louisiana governors, was arrested recently in Indiana. This arrest stems from allegations dating back 20 years, including charges of luring and raping young parishioners in New Orleans.
Mark Francis Ford, now 64, faced these serious allegations while he worked at the Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans.
An unidentified man, now 31, reported that Ford began abusing him when he was just 10 years old, following their introduction at a program for children with disabilities that Ford led.
The specifics of the abuse remain somewhat unclear. However, the man indicated that it continued until about 2022 or 2023, after Ford had left the priesthood, a decision that coincided with a shift toward an eco-friendly initiative in government.
Interestingly, Ford has a degenerative spinal condition that restricts his mobility at times, often using a wheelchair. He is also on the autism spectrum, distinguishing him legally as a minority, according to his lawyer, Chris Schubert.
It seems he only recently disclosed the abuse allegations.
Schubert mentioned that her client underwent several forensic interviews prior to the police obtaining an arrest warrant for Ford.
As Ford had relocated out of state, coordinating his arrest required collaboration across multiple law enforcement agencies to ensure he could be returned to New Orleans.
During his 16-year tenure in the priesthood, Ford was notably involved with Indigenous communities in Arizona and later served at two New Orleans churches.
Ford transitioned to public service in 2006 as the assistant director of disability issues for Louisiana under then-Governor Kathleen Blanco, where he focused on helping individuals with disabilities access resources post-Hurricane Katrina.
In 2008, he moved on to direct the Indian Affairs Bureau under Governor Bobby Jindal, supporting Indigenous tribes during the recovery from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Recently, he worked as the director of community engagement for a nonprofit serving American Native/tribal communities, although that position has not been confirmed by the organization.
Ford is facing serious charges, including first-degree rape and sexual battery. If convicted of the rape charges alone, he could face life imprisonment. The additional charges could also lead to significant prison time.
In the backdrop, the Catholic Church in New Orleans has been embroiled in a bankruptcy scandal, following investigations into sexual abuse that suggested the archdiocese may have worked to shield numerous offenders.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans filed for federal bankruptcy protection in 2020, a move that limits their financial liability for longstanding abuse allegations involving clergy and minors. Amid the turmoil, the archdiocese has agreed to a staggering $230 million settlement for survivors of abuse, though this settlement is still pending approval by the affected parties.
