BATON ROUGE, LA — The Diocese of Baton Rouge has removed Catholic Priest Father Charbel Jamhoury from ministry.

According to the Diocese, it has also revoked his Safe Environment credentials and forbade him from further public ministry after allegations surfaced of inappropriate sexual behavior between the priest and an adult male.

On Feb. 8, Bishop Michael Duca removed Jamhoury from St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church in Baker, four months after the complaint was initially filed with the Diocese.

In a letter by the whistleblower and alleged victim sent to the parishioners, they urged parents to talk to their kids.

“Due to the serious nature of the allegations and our Bishop’s proportionate response, it would be prudent to have an informed conversation with your children (or any vulnerable person under your care) to learn if they ever experienced an uncomfortable or inappropriate interaction with Fr. Charbel, or if they witnessed anything inappropriate between Fr. Charbel and another person,” the letter read.

The individuals cautioned parishioners to use discretion about sharing the letter online.

“Our sincere request is that this letter not be shared on social media but only amongst those who have come into contact with Fr. Charbel,” the letter read.

A complaint was filed with the Diocese of Baton Rouge last October by the alleged victim. A second complaint made by a whistleblower was later elevated to the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service about the diocese not taking action.

It is alleged that Jamhoury offered an adult male oral sex, asked for a back massage, and made inappropriate comments.

The complaint alleges the priest also admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 20-year-old male, and the priest allegedly told the alleged victim it was OK to perform small sins but not big ones.

Jamhoury was said to have maintained his full credentials until the Diocese of Baton Rouge revoked them in February, with the investigation not being formally announced in the parish at that time.

The alleged victim said that when he initially brought this to the diocese’s attention, he was asked if he wanted money and if he was trying to get paid. He shared in an interview that he does not have a lawyer and just wanted the Diocese of Baton Rouge to do the right thing and remove Jamhoury.

A complaint about the alleged mishandling of this case by the Diocese of Baton Rouge was also sent to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge is part of a territorial division of the church that is subordinate to a principal Archdiocese.

A permanent representative of the Holy See, the Central governing body of the Catholic Church, authorized Archbishop James Checchio in New Orleans to initiate an investigation to collect information for them in this matter, which was reported.

Archbishop Checchio has 20 days to organize the investigation, then 30 days to complete the investigation, followed by 15 days to send his report, according to correspondence obtained.

Jamhoury is a Lebanese Maronite priest who was assigned to St. Isidore in the summer of 2025. Before that, he served as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mercy in Baton Rouge and also worked at St. Agnes.

Calls to him were not returned this week.

Luke Zumo is a long-time friend of the victim and a strong supporter of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

“This is a nightmare for me,” Zumo said.

Zumo served in multiple capacities within the organization, including on the vocations team, which is tasked with interviewing seminarians, men trying to become priests for the diocese.

“He (Jamhoury) detailed a history and a desire for oral sex with minor boys in graphic detail,” Zumo said. “If there’s a case where you suspect potential child abuse, as a volunteer for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, I’m a mandated reporter.”

Zumo said once he learned of the inappropriate behavior, he scheduled meetings with the Vicar General, Father Jamin David, and Bishop Michael Duca.