Gerard Louis Frey

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 bishop of 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. Two of his brothers also entered the priesthood. After attending St. Vincent de Paul School, Frey studied at St. Joseph College Seminary in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, from 1928 to 1932. After his ordination, the archdiocese named Frey as a curate at Holy Rosary Parish in Taft, Louisiana. In 1946, he was named director of the archdiocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. He was later made pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Houma, Louisiana.

During his tenure, Frey launched the Social Apostolate, a social service agency designed "to put people in the pews in touch with the poor." He also encouraged every parish in the diocese to establish a parish council. He also named the first woman to serve as chancellor of a Catholic diocese in the United States. Gauthe later confessed to sexually abusing 37 children, though he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges by reason of insanity. Gauthe was ultimately convicted.

Retirement and death Pope John Paul II accepted Frey's resignation as bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana on May 13, 1989. 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.