Former New Orleans Priest Charged With Rape, Kidnapping
NEW ORLEANS, La. (KPEL-FM) - A former New Orleans, Louisiana priest is facing charges in connection with the serial rape and kidnapping of a child with disabilities.
New Orleans Priest Arrested For Rape And Kidnapping
According to WAFB, 65-year-old former New Orleans priest Mark Ford was arrested and booked into the Orleans Justice Center earlier this week and is currently facing charges of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, sexual battery and indecent behavior with juveniles.
Ford will appear in court today (10/17/25) for a bond hearing.
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From WAFB.com -
A detective spoke with the victim’s mother who said Ford had been a minister affiliated with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which the family attended at the time.
Detectives then sent the victim, who is permanently recognized as a juvenile due to his physical and intellectual disabilities, to a forensic interview, in which he told last fall he had been abused by 'Father Mark,' who was a minister at St. Joseph’s during his childhood.
According to court records, police state the abuse began when the victim was 10-years-old when he became a member of a “God’s Special Children,” a group for disabled children.
The accusations against Ford are serious, and seriously disturbing. Read more about them in detail at WAFB.com.
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