
David Hammer
Investigative Reporter at WWL-TV (New Orleans, LA)
Investigative Reporter at WUPL-TV (New Orleans, LA)
Chief Investigative Reporter @wwltv. Formerly Times-Pic and AP. Lifting up New Orleans by holding its leaders accountable.
Articles
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1 week ago |
brownpelicanla.com | David Hammer
The Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans is planning to default on a nearly $1 million interest payment on more than $41 million in bonds it sold in 2017, leading lawyers for the people who purchased the church’s debt to allege in open court that the archdiocese had engaged in “the definition of securities fraud.” An attorney for the archdiocese counters that the allegation is “an extreme stretch.” But whatever the case, the dispute pitting the US’ second-oldest Catholic diocese against people...
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1 week ago |
aol.co.uk | Ramon Vargas |David Hammer
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans is planning to default on paying a nearly $1m interest payment on more than $41m in bonds it sold in 2017, leading lawyers for the people who purchased the church’s debt to allege in open court that it had engaged in “the definition of securities fraud”. An attorney for the archdiocese countered that the allegation is “an extreme stretch”.
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2 weeks ago |
ca.news.yahoo.com | David Hammer |Ramon Vargas
Rex Perrette speaks on 12 June 2025 of his role in the case that previously sent Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans priest Patrick Wattigny to prison for child molestation. Rex Perrette speaks on 12 June 2025 of his role in the case that previously sent Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans priest Patrick Wattigny to prison for child molestation.
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2 weeks ago |
ca.news.yahoo.com | Ramon Vargas |David Hammer
‘Give me your word you won’t do it again’: convicted sex abuser priest tells how church gave him second chanceA Roman Catholic priest who admitted to child molestation has publicly recounted for the first time how New Orleans’ archbishop tried to give him a chance to continue his career even after catching the cleric sending inappropriate texts to a minor.
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1 month ago |
theguardian.com | David Hammer
The Catholic archbishop of New Orleans made a rare in-person appearance in federal bankruptcy court on Friday, days after announcing a potential agreement to settle claims with hundreds of clergy abuse survivors that has been met with pushback from some of the plaintiffs.
Journalists covering the same region

Justin Mitchell
Managing Editor| The New Orleans Advocate at The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate
Justin Mitchell primarily covers news in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and surrounding areas.

Jeff Hamburger
Executive Producer at WGNO-TV (New Orleans, LA)
Jeff Hamburger primarily covers news in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and surrounding areas.

Eva Tesfaye
Coastal Reporter at WWNO-FM (New Orleans, LA)
Eva Tesfaye primarily covers news in the Greater New Orleans area, including Metairie and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.
Amanda Valdin
News Producer at WDSU-TV (New Orleans, LA)
Amanda Valdin primarily covers news in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and surrounding areas.

Emily Hingle
Events and Travel Editor at Where Y'at Magazine
Emily Hingle primarily covers news in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and surrounding areas.
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'I thought I was going to vomit': Victim watches parole hearing as priest admits sexual attraction. He was 16 when Father Patrick Wattigny began texting him. My @WWLTV exclusive with @RVargasWrites @GuardianUS https://t.co/qkFTrw8bRW

Next at 6:00, my @WWLTV exclusive with the young man who exposed Wattigny’s texts.

Convicted child molester priest denied parole. Patrick Wattigny appears before parole board and reveals how he promised Archbishop Gregory Aymond he wouldn’t do it again. My story @WWLTV with @RVargasWrites @GuardianUS https://t.co/UHk2ECQS03

Convicted child molester priest denied parole. Patrick Wattigny appears before parole board and reveals how he promised Archbishop Gregory Aymond he wouldn’t do it again. My story @WWLTV with @RVargasWrites @GuardianUS https://t.co/UHk2ECQS03