News Summary
A Louisiana judge has ordered the return of electronics belonging to former Roman Catholic priest Travis Clark, who pleaded guilty to obscenity for engaging in sexual acts atop a church altar. The judge mandated the erasure of all data to prevent public release of incriminating videos. This incident, which took place in 2020, has spurred wider conversations about clergy abuse and accountability within the Catholic Church, especially in light of ongoing investigations into sexual abuse cases.
Pearl River, Louisiana – A Louisiana judge has ordered the return of electronics belonging to former Roman Catholic priest Travis Clark, who pleaded guilty to obscenity after engaging in sexual acts with two dominatrices in 2020 atop a church altar. The ruling came from Judge Ellen Creel, who mandated that all data from the returned devices be erased to prevent the public release of any videos documenting the incident.
The incident occurred on September 30, 2020, at Sts Peter and Paul Church in Pearl River. A passerby reported seeing Clark with the two dominatrices, known as Lady Vi and Empress Ming, filming themselves performing sexual acts through a window. Following the report, police arrested the trio. While Clark faced felony obscenity charges, both dominatrices pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and received probation sentences.
The electronics seized from Clark included multiple devices such as cellphones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, flash drives, and memory cards. Although Clark’s attorneys suggested that there might not be any sealed videos remaining on these devices, they are proceeding with the deletion of any potential footage. Reports indicated that the videos encompassed acts such as Clark urinating into a communion wine chalice and engaging in intimate activities while dressed in women’s underwear. During the investigation, authorities discovered stage lights, recording devices, and sex toys inside the church, suggesting that their filming was premeditated.
In a rapid response to the incident, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond ordered the altar where the acts took place to be burned and replaced with a new consecrated altar. Amid the scandal, Clark expressed his ongoing belief in God, emphasizing values of mercy and forgiveness, despite the felony charges against him.
Lady Vi, one of the dominatrices involved, later criticized the manner in which the media and the church handled the situation, claiming they had been filmed without consent by trespassers and emphasizing that they were consenting adults engaged in private acts. Meanwhile, Clark has indicated that feelings of loneliness and a desire for human interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic were key motivations for his actions.
After pleading guilty in 2022, Clark was threatened with additional jail time for violating probation terms by participating in media interviews discussing the case. Interest in the sexual encounter and its implications attracted media attention and public scrutiny on an international scale, highlighting the ongoing issues within the Catholic Church.
Since the incident, Louisiana has seen an increased focus on clergy abuse investigations and scandals, contributing to a broader reckoning concerning child molestation within the church. Recent news regarding the passing of Scott Anthony Gastal, an abuse survivor linked to clergy molestation cases from the 1980s, has drawn further attention to the systemic issues of abuse within the archdiocese.
Furthermore, there are ongoing investigations into the church’s handling of sexual abuse cases, adding layers of complexity to the narrative surrounding Clark’s case and the accountability of church officials. The return of the seized electronics represents just one aspect of a wider societal conversation about abuse, consent, and morality within religious institutions.
With the church now grappling with the aftermath of this scandal, the implications of Clark’s actions and the judicial ruling will echo within the community and religious circles for some time to come. The broader impact of this incident continues to unfold, intersecting with larger conversations about accountability and reform in the Catholic Church during a tumultuous period marked by a reckoning with historical and contemporary abuse cases.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- The Guardian: Church Abuse Survivor Louisiana Killed
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jimmy Swaggart
- WWLTV: People Named in Saints Clergy Abuse Emails
- Google Search: Clergy Abuse Cases
- NOLA: Catholic Church Ignored 1985 Report Warning
- Google Scholar: Catholic Church Clergy Sexual Abuse
- The Guardian: NFL Sexual Abuse Survivors New Orleans Saints
- Google News: Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Scandal
Author: STAFF HERE NEWORLEANS WRITER
NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
