One of 37 priests on Baton Rouge Diocesan list once served in Avoyelles.

One of the 37 priests accused of sexual abuse named today by the Diocese of Baton Rouge served at one time in Avoyelles Parish.

The list of individuals were named in credible allegations of sexual abuse of one or more minors or vulnerable adults which allegedly occurred within the Diocese of Baton Rouge after its formation in 1961.

David Joseph Clark, was on the list with one accusation, which would have occurred after he served in Avoyelles Parish. He left the priesthood after the date of the incident and he has since died. He had served in Marksville and Cottonport, apparently as an assistant pastor in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

The list contains this detail of Clark:
Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.)

Ordained: 1954

Pastoral assignment: 

Queen of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Prescott, AZ

All Saints, Ft. Worth, TX

Immaculate Conception, Yuma, AZ

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Alexandria, LA

St. Joseph, Monroe, LA

St. Anthony, Cottonport, LA

St. Joseph, Marksville, LA

St. Thomas More, Baton Rouge, LA


Alleged occurrence: Between 1964-1965
12/15/2018


Reassigned by the Claretian Order and left the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1965.


Deceased (2000s)

Bishop Michael G. Duca, bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, said releasing a list of clergy is "not the end but an attempt to open the door on child sexual abuse that none of us want to open."
The diocese named the 37 clergy, including one bishop and one seminarian, who were identified during a review of the diocese's 1,033 clergy files.

An allegation of sexual abuse is considered credible when the bishop believes that, after a careful investigation and upon the recommendation of the Diocesan Independent Review Board, an incident of sexual abuse occurred, or probably occurred, with the possibility that it did not occur being highly unlikely.

Duca said he shared the list and information concerning the abuse with local law enforcement for review.

Duca was recently appointed as Bishop of Baton Rouge. He is a native of Dallas.

AVOYELLES JOURNAL
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MARKSVILLE WEEKLY

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