Louisiana Priest’s BDSM Incident Leads to Electronics Ruling

A Louisiana judge has ordered the return of electronics seized from former Roman Catholic priest Father Travis Clark, who was caught engaging in BDSM activities on the altar of Saints Peter and Paul Church. This ruling comes after a scandal that began on September 30, 2020, when a passerby noticed the priest with two dominatrices, Lady Vi and Empress Ming, in the church sanctuary.

The incident was brought to the attention of law enforcement when the observer recorded the actions on a cellphone and alerted the authorities. Police arrested Clark and the dominatrices, confiscating items including stage lights, recording devices, and various sex toys. Clark later pleaded guilty to obscenity charges, which led to significant repercussions for his clerical career.

In a recent decision, state court Judge Ellen Creel instructed law enforcement to erase all data from the seized devices to prevent any potential public dissemination of videos taken during the incident. The ruling not only applies to Clark’s electronics but also extends to Lady Vi and Empress Ming, who both pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to the case.

The specifics of the videos, which have been under court seal since the incident, have emerged through various reports. According to The Guardian, one video allegedly shows a communion wine chalice being desecrated, while another depicts Clark wearing women’s underwear and engaging in sexual acts on church grounds. In response to the scandal, Archbishop Gregory Aymond had the altar destroyed and subsequently consecrated a new one.

Following his conviction, Clark served time in jail after violating probation by giving an interview to a local news outlet. In the interview, he discussed the events leading up to the incident, attributing his actions to feelings of loneliness and a desire for “human interaction” during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated, “Struggling and falling, sinning, too – priests sin as well,” and eventually chose to leave the priesthood voluntarily.

Lady Vi later commented on the situation in an interview with Hustler, emphasizing that the trio were consenting adults filming in what they believed was a private setting. She argued that societal expectations in the Bible Belt contributed to the criminalization of their actions.

As the legal proceedings surrounding this unusual case continue, the ongoing discourse highlights broader themes of consent, privacy, and the intersection of personal behavior with public moral standards. The return of Clark’s electronics marks a significant step in the legal resolution of this controversial incident, although the lasting impact on his life and the church community remains to be seen.