Rev. Thomas R. Clark

Summary of Case: In 2002 it was revealed that the diocese paid $30K in 1998 to settle allegations against Clark. He was investigated and cleared by Louisville County Police. Based on that and a psychological assessment of Clark, the diocese decided no abuse occurred, but offered the alleged victim a financial settlement because of "difficulties he was facing in his life" and because Clark had cared for him for years after juvenile court placed the boy in his custody.

Ordained: 1962

     

Start Stop Assignment Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1962

Baltimore archbishop was Lawrence Joseph Shehan (1961-1974)

1963 St. Charles College Catonsville MD

 

  

1963

Washington archbishop was Patrick Joseph McCormick (1950-1953)

1964 St. Mary's Seminary Baltimore MD   This was a seminary for the Society of the Priests of St. Sulpice.

1964

 

 1965 Catholic University Washington DC   Clark is referred to as Rev. Thomas R. Clark, s.s.

1964

 

 1969 St. Charles College Catonsville

MD

 

 Dean of Men 1968-1969.  

1969

Louisville archbishop was Thomas Joseph McDonough (1967- 1981)

 1972 St. Augustine's Lebanon KY 2/3

Parish had a grade school with 415-387 students, and a high school with 184 students during 1969-1970, but not after.

Clark is no longer referred to with "s.s." after 1969.

1972 1973 St. Helen's Louisville KY 1/4 Parish had a school with 725 students.
1973 1977 St. Mildred's Somerset KY 2/3 Clark is not indexed but is listed as at St. Mildred's in the 1974 Directory. He is indexed but not listed there in the 1976 and 1977 Directories.
1973 1977 Holy Spirit Jamestown KY 1/1 This was a mission of St. Mildred's in Somerset KY.
1973 1976 Catholic Chapel Albany KY 1/1 This was a mission of St. Mildred's in Somerset KY.
1973 1976 St. Peter's Monticello KY 1/1 This was a mission of St. Mildred's in Somerset KY.
1975 1976 Good Shepherd Chapel Whitley City KY 1/1 This was a mission of St. Mildred's in Somerset KY.
1977 1981 Holy Redeemer Greensburg KY   Clark is indexed, but not listed at Holy Reemer in the 1978-1981 Directories.
1977 1981 Good Shepherd Columbia KY 1/1 This was a mission of Holy Redeemer in Greensburg KY.
1977 1980 Christ the Healer

Columbia KY 1/1 This was a mission of Holy Redeemer in Greensburg KY.

1981

Los Angeles archbishop was Timothy Manning (1970-1985)

1982 On Duty Outside the Diocese Los Angeles CA   Address given is 144 N. Edgeware Rd., Los Angeles

1982

Thomas Cajetan Kelly replaced McDonough as Louisville archbishop (1981-2007)

1985 St. Benedict Louisville KY 1/1  
1985 1989 St. Michael's Fairfield KY   Clark is indexed but not listed in the Louisville diocesan pages as at St. Michael's.
1985 1989 Church of All Saints Taylorsville KY 1/1 This was a mission of St. Michael's in Fairfield KY.
1989 1991 St. Monica's Bardstown KY 1/1  
1989 1991 Central State Hospital Louisville KY Chaplain  
1991 2002 St. Timothy's

Valley Station

• A man who claimed to have been abused by Clark was given $30,000 by the archdiocese in 1998. As a boy, a juvenile court judge had placed him in Clark's custody. Police could not substantiate the accuser's claim. (Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
December 16, 2002)

KY 1/1  
1995 2002 Our Lady Help of Christians Valley Station KY 1/1  
1995 2002 St. Patrick's West Point KY 1/1  
2002 2005 St. Bernard Liberty (Clementsville) KY 1/1 Parish had a religious education program with 46-40 students.
2002 2006 Sacred Heart Liberty KY   This was a mission of St. Bernard in Liberty.
2005 2006 Our Lady of the Hills Campbellsville (Finley) KY 1/2 Parish had a religious education program with 39 students.
2005 2006 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Campbellsville KY 1/2 Parish had a religious education program with 51 students.
2005 2006 Our Lady of Fatima Phillipsburg (Finley) KY 1/2  

2006

Kelly was succeeded by Joseph Edward Kurtz
(2007- )

 2009 Immaculate Conception Culvertown KY 2/2 Retired; In residence.  


Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1963-2009)

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 and 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.

This assignment record collates Clark's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on December 22, 2009.