Gerard Louis Frey

{{Infobox Christian leader

| type =

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Gerard Louis Frey

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Bishop of Lafayette

| image = Coat of arms of Gerard Louis Frey.svg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| church =

| archdiocese =

| province =

| metropolis =

| diocese =

| see = Diocese of Lafayette

| elected =

| term = 1967-1989

| quashed =

| predecessor = Maurice Schexnayder

| successor = Harry Flynn

| opposed =

| other_post = Diocese of Savannah (1967–1972)

| ordination = April 2, 1938

| ordained_by = Joseph Francis Rummel

| consecration = August 8, 1968

| consecrated_by = Philip Hannan

| cardinal =

| created_cardinal_by =

| rank =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|05|10}}

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|08|16|1914|05|10}}

| death_place = New Iberia, Louisiana, US

| buried = Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist

| resting_place_coordinates =

| nationality =

| religion = Roman Catholic

| residence =

| parents = Andrew Francis and Marie Theresa (née DeRose) Frey

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| profession =

| education = St. Joseph College Seminary
Notre Dame Seminary

| alma_mater =

| motto = Serviam (I will serve)

| signature =

| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Gerard Louis Frey.svg

| honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend

}}

Gerard Louis Frey (May 10, 1914 – August 16, 2007) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia (1967–1972) and the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana (1972–1989).

Biography

=Early life and education=

One of nine children, Gerard Frey was born on May 10, 1914, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Andrew Francis and Marie Theresa (née DeRose) Frey.{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Georgina Pell|title=The American Catholic Who's Who|volume=XIV|year=1961|publisher=Walter Romig|location=Grosse Pointe, Michigan}} Two of his brothers also entered the priesthood.{{cite news|work=Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home |title=Louis Andrew Frey |url=http://lakelawnmetairie.createatribute.com/registryMain.php?PHPSESSID=&i_memorialid=1188769190 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} After attending St. Vincent de Paul School, Frey studied at St. Joseph College Seminary in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, from 1928 to 1932. He then entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he completed his theological studies.

=Ordination and ministry=

Frey was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph Rummel for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on April 2, 1938.{{cite news|work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|title=Bishop Gerard Louis Frey|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bfrey.html}}{{better source needed|date=December 2014}} He then served as a curate at Holy Rosary Parish in Taft, Louisiana, until 1946, when he became director of the archdiocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. While serving as director, he resided at St. Leo the Great Church in New Orleans.

Frey was named a papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII in 1949, and was appointed pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish at New Orleans in 1952. He was named a domestic prelate by the Vatican in 1954. Frey attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965 as a pastoral representative.{{cite news|work=Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana |title=BISHOP GERARD FREY, THIRD BISHOP OF LAFAYETTE DIES AT 93 |url=http://www.diolaf.org/frey.html }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was later made pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Houma, Louisiana.

=Bishop of Savannah=

On May 31, 1967, Frey was appointed the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Savannah by Pope Paul VI.{{better source needed|date=December 2014}} He received his episcopal consecration on August 8, 1967, from Archbishop Philip Hannan, with Bishops Charles Greco and Robert Tracy serving as co-consecrators.{{better source needed|date=December 2014}} He selected as his episcopal motto: Serviam (Latin: "I will serve").{{cite news|date=2007-08-17 |work=Catholic News Service |title=Retired Bishop Frey of Lafayette, La., dead at 93 |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20070817.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118214350/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20070817.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-18 }}

During his tenure, Frey launched the Social Apostolate, a social service agency designed "to put people in the pews in touch with the poor."{{cite news|date=2007-08-18|work=The Advocate|title=Bishop Frey recalled as kind, open to change|last=Felty|first=Dana Clark}} He also encouraged every church in the diocese to establish a parish council.

=Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana=

On November 7, 1972, Frey was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana by Paul VI.{{better source needed|date=December 2014}} During his tenure, he initiated reorganization plans that increased and expanded participation by clergy, religious, and laity in diocesan affairs.{{cite news|date=2007-08-17|work=The Advocate|title=Former Bishop Frey dies at age 93|last=Blanchard|first=Kevin}} He also named the first woman to serve as chancellor of a Catholic diocese in the United States. In 1987, he opened a diocesan synod.

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 confronting Gilbert 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.{{cite news|date=1985-06-20|work=The New York Times|title=SEX CHARGES AGAINST PRIEST EMBROIL LOUISIANA PARENTS|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/20/us/sex-charges-against-priest-embroil-louisiana-parents.html}} Gauthe later confessed to sexually abusing 37 children, though he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges by reason of insanity. Gauthe was ultimately criminally convicted in the first sex-abuse case against the Catholic Church.{{cite news|date=2013-10-05|work=USA Today|title=Texas town now houses 1st convicted pedophile Priest|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/05/gilbert-gauthe-catholic-priest-now/2926823/}}

=Retirement and death=

Pope John Paul II accepted Frey's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette on May 13, 1989.{{better source needed|date=December 2014}} He was succeeded by his coadjutor bishop, Harry Flynn. Frey retired to a family compound in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.{{cite news|date=2007-08-25 |work=The Tablet |title=Obituaries |url=http://www.thetablet.org/08252007/obituaries.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023201/http://www.thetablet.org/08252007/obituaries.html |archivedate=2008-10-13 }} His brother Jerome drove to Bay St. Louis to rescue Frey, returning him to Louisiana.

Frey spent the remainder of his life first at Consolata Nursing Home in New Iberia, Louisiana, and later in a private home in Lafayette provided by the diocese. Gerard Frey died after a lengthy illness on August 16, 2007, at age 93. He is buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Lafayette.

References

External links

[http://www.diolaf.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette]
[http://diosav.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah]
[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/20/us/sex-charges-against-priest-embroil-louisiana-parents.html]
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/05/gilbert-gauthe-catholic-priest-now/2926823/]

{{succession box |

before=Thomas Joseph McDonough |

title=Bishop of Savannah|

years=1967–1972 |

after=Raymond W. Lessard

}}

{{succession box |

before=Maurice Schexnayder |

title=Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana|

years=1972–1989 |

after=Harry Flynn

}}