New Orleans SNAP Reacts To Archbishop Aymond Adding Fr. Brian Highfill to the List of Credibly Accused Clerics

Dr. Scot Brandner and I grew up in the same St. Catherine of Siena parish neighborhood in Old Metairie in the 1970’s. We were both altar boys, though he was a couple of years older, and we never met. Our paths crossed in the mid 90’s at Ochsner Foundation Hospital where I was a medical social worker, and he was an anesthesia resident. Although we never met, I heard about his tragic suicide that shocked the entire community. Scotty was beloved by everyone who knew him.Fast forward 25 years…as a volunteer leader with Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), I meet Michael Brandner, Sr – Scot’s older brother. Mike shared with me the heart-wrenching experience of finding his brother lifeless hours after he committed suicide. Almost thirty years later in 2020, Mike confides in me that he discovered love letters written to Scot by Fr. Brian Highfill, who was in charge of the altar boys at St. Catherine. Mike suspected that Fr. Highfill sexually abused his brother, which no doubt contributed to his decision to end his life. Mike reached out to a friend of Scotty’s to inquire if this suspicion was correct. This friend indeed confirmed that Fr. Highfill abused Scot for years, beginning as an altar boy at our boyhood church in Old Metairie.