Priest Convicted of Animal Cruelty Not Coming to Shreveport

A priest who was convicted of animal cruelty and assigned to the Diocese of Shreveport, isn’t coming to Shreveport after all.

"As previously announced, Father Thessing was scheduled to begin a new assignment in the Diocese of Shreveport on January 1, 2026. Father Thessing has since requested not to be considered for this assignment and has conveyed his decision to Bishop Malone."   Statement from the Catholic Diocese

According to the Diocese of Shreveport Safe Environment Doctrine, the assignment follows established review processes and occurred after the priest had completed legal requirements tied to the case. Still, the situation has sparked discussion locally as more details have come to light. 

What We Know About the Animal Cruelty Conviction 

According to a report in the Memphis Flyer, The Reverand Charles Thessing was convicted in a separate jurisdiction for an animal cruelty-related offense. The case did not involve harm to a person, and officials emphasize that it is not connected to any allegations of abuse involving minors or parishioners. 

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Thessing was arrested after reports to the West Memphis Animal Shelter.  Officials responded and found that Thessing was trapping feral cats and drowing them. Several traps, a large tub of water, and two dead cats were found on Thessing's property.

The priest reportedly completed sentencing and any required supervision prior to returning to ministry duties.

Diocese of Shreveport Review and Assignment Process 

According to the Code of Canon Law, Diocese of Shreveport traditionally conducts an internal review before allowing a priest to serve locally. That process likely included evaluating legal records, consulting with church leadership, and determining whether restrictions or oversight were necessary.

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The Diocese states that safeguarding policies are followed and that assignments do not violate church guidelines. They also note that decisions regarding clergy placement often involve multiple layers of approval and ongoing evaluation.