Msgr. Cordell J. Lang-Assignment

Msgr. Cordell J. Lang

Accused in 1995 suit of engaging in immoral sexual acts with boy who was student at Catholic high school where Lang was counselor. Lang claimed that because of multiple sclerosis he was impotent and unable to walk or dress himself since mid-1980s. Trial verdict for Defendant Lang. Alabama Court of Civil Appeals ruling 5/2/97, 1997 Ala. Civ.App. LEXIS 358, affirmed. Lang reinstated (in 1997?) per 2003 article. Died Oct. 1, 2001.

Ordained: 1979

Start	Stop	Assignment	Town/Accusations	State	Position	Notes
1979 John Lawrence May was Mobile bishop (1969-1980), replaced by Oscar Hugh Lipscomb (1980-2008)	1994	McGill-Toolen Catholic High School	Mobile • Accused in a 1995 lawsuit of sexually abusing a male McGill-Toolen student five years previously. (Mobile Register March 7, 1995)	AL	counselor	McGill-Toolen had 1449-1080 students.
1983	1995	Archdiocesan Consultor
1983	1994	Priests' Council				Noted in Directories to be an "ex-officio member" of the Council 1990-1994.
1979	2001	St. Mary's	Mobile • Suspended from ministry 1995 when lawsuit alleging abuse of a former high school student was filed. Jury ruled in favor of Lang, and he was reinstated in 1996 as associate pastor of St. Mary's. (Mobile Register April 5, 1996)	AL	2/4, 4/4, 2/5, 2/3 Msgr. Daniel P. Harnett was pastor, Lang was second, and Revs. G. Warren Wall, and Joffre A Robichaud were third and fourth priests1979-1981. Rev. John Aherne was pastor 1981-1993, followed as pastor by Msgr. Kenneth J. Klepac 1993-1996, and Rev. Peter J. Cunningham 1996-2001. Rev. James F. Zoghby is listed second and Rev. John S. Bourdreaux is third, with Lang in the last spot 1981-1983. In 1983-1987 Rev. Edwin P. Beachum worked in the third spot. They were joined 1983-1984 by Rev. Austin Conry, who is listed fourth and last. In residence 1984-1987 were former pastor Msgr. Daniel P. Harnett and Rev. J. Ceci Gill. Rev. Cu Minh Duong was third priest 1987-1992. Rev. Richard T. Rodriguez, S.J. was in residence 1987-1989. Rev. Joffre Robichaud returned, in residence, 1989-1992, and Rev. Austin Conry returned, in residence, 1990-1995. Rev. Paul G. Zogbhy is listed third, just after Lang, 1994-2001. Rev. Steven T. Williams was in residence 1996-2001. Also at St. Mary's were Deacons William R. Dolan, 1989-1994 as well as1996-2001, and Ernest J. Johnson, 1994-2001.	St. Mary's had a school with 280-166 students. Lang is referred to "Msgr." beginning in the 1989 Directory. Lang died Oct. 1, 2001

Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: Kenedy & Sons, 1980-2002).

Priests in a Parish: We use the following convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand 3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample page from the Directory.

Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy & Sons will sometimes accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post. Please email us with new information and corrections.