AZ--Credibly accused predator priest in AZ is "outed"

For immediate release: Thursday, Oct. 23

Statement by Barbara Dorris of SNAP (314 503 0003)

A Catholic priest who lives in Mesa has been “outed” today for the first time as a credibly accused child molester. We call on Arizona Catholic officials to warn parents, parishioners and the public about him.

http://www.andersonadvocates.com/Posts/News-or-Event/1917/News-Release-Names-of-17-Priests-Added-to-Archdiocese-of-Saint-Paul-and-Minneapolis-List-of-Abusers-Today.aspx

http://www.archspm.org/archspm_news/statement-regarding-disclosure-additional-names/

In a joint announcement by a law firm and the St. Paul archdiocese, Fr.  Robert P. Clark is one of four priests whose names are being disclosed today for the first time as having “substantiated claims against them of sexually abusing a minor.” The revelations come as part of a settlement of a clergy sex abuse and cover up lawsuit announced last week (John Doe 1 vs. Fr. Thomas Adamson and the St. Paul archdiocese).   

We again applaud Doe for insisting that more names of predator priests are disclosed as a result of his courageous litigation.

Let there be no mistake about this new information:  it’s being released because victims have filed lawsuits and insist on real safety measures, not just pay offs. It’s not a sign of reform by Catholic officials. It’s a sign that when victims are brave enough to step forward and smart enough to file lawsuits, more truth can be exposed and more kids can be protected.

We hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Fr. Clark– or any cleric – will find the courage to speak up, get help, expose wrongdoers, protect others and start healing.  And we hope that Arizona’s bishops will overcome the temptation to do nothing, will choose to act responsibly, and use their church websites, parish bulletins, pulpit announcements and news releases to seek out anyone else who may have been hurt by Fr. Clark.

http://safe-environment.archspm.org/accountability/clergy-disclosures/robert-clark/

Here’s what the Jeff Anderson law firm in St. Paul – along with the St. Paul archdiocese – released today about Fr. Clark:

Date of birth: 6/28/1958

Date of ordination: 2/18/1984

Clark is a priest of another diocese who is alleged to have committed acts of sexual abuse of a minor outside of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This archdiocese is not aware of any substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor asserted against Clark relating to any conduct that occurred in this archdiocese. Clark’s name has nevertheless been added to the archdiocese’s disclosure list in the interest of full transparency, to champion the Child Protection Protocols and Procedures first announced to the public on October 13, 2014 and to aid in healing for survivors who may reside in the archdiocese.

Clark’s assignment history:

Associate Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1984

Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity, Winsted, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1989

Associate Pastor, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1989-1990

Pastor, St. Anthony, Watkins, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1990-1993

Parochial Administrator, Our Lady, Manannah, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1992-1996

Pastor, St. Patrick, Kandiyohi, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997

Pastor, St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997

Administrative leave, 1997

Religion Teacher, Saint Agnes High School, St. Paul, 1998-2002

Administrative leave, 2002

Diocese or religious order: Diocese of New Ulm

Date permanently removed from ministry: Removed from active ministry on March 26, 2002

Current location: Mesa, AZ

Current status: Resigned

Date the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis posted this individual’s name on a list of those with claims of substantiated abuse against them: October 23, 2014

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

    

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