The Peyton Family Mission

Assistance for Victims of Clergy Sex Abuse

Assistance for victims of clergy sex abuse became our priority after learning our priest of twelve years abused one of our sons. Learning about what happened to our son nearly destroyed our faith and our family. We made it our mission to provide assistance for victims of clergy sex abuse to find healing and justice.

Clergy Sex abuse and the Roman Collar

Nothing can prepare parents for the devastating news that one of their children is a victim of clergy sex abuse by their priest. Scott Peyton, an ordained Catholic deacon and a Probation and Parole Officer for the State of Louisiana, was trained in supervising sex offenders. Yet, he could not see what was happening to his own family. Father Michael Guidry groomed the Peyton family for several years. “I could not see past the Roman Collar, and that is the scary part of the problem with predatory priests.” The Peyton family found themselves part of a group of victims of clergy sex abuse with very little assistance. Scott and Letitia spent countless days and months seeking justice for their son while at the same time going to counseling and trying to protect their four younger children from the horror happening in their family. The family vowed to provide assistance for survivors of clergy sex abuse.

There was no ‘How To’ help list for clergy abuse victims or their families

—Letitia Peyton

No one gave us an envelope with a checklist that included timelines and follow-up with each organization we were working with. It was a constant battle. We had to be relentless in our fight to get the abuser in jail and still continue to work to keep him in jail. We had no idea of the different types of counseling there are and how they work and the specialized areas that are needed for sexual abuse. It was particularly complicated because this was clergy sex abuse and the church were no longer a place of solace and healing but a place of betrayal and hurt.

Healing and Justice for Victims of Clergy Sex Abuse

The Peyton’s vowed to assist victims of clergy sex abuse with concrete steps and information they did not have available to them. There was no “How To” help list for clergy abuse victims or their families. Victims need the support of their families and communities to fight for justice and healing. The trauma is overwhelming for victims to face it alone. The Peytons organized The TentMakers of Louisiana to help victims understand how to report the abuse to law enforcement, help find a trauma-trained counselor, and help with the civil justice system.