Third Priest Leaves Diocese Over Sex Scandals

In the third sex scandal to hit Tampa Bay’s Roman Catholic diocese in as many days, a priest has resigned amid accusations that he sexually abused someone years ago.

“It’s been a challenging and very painful week,” diocese spokeswoman Mary Jo Murphy said Thursday. “I don’t try to look into the future. We’re dealing with today right now and praying to get through.”

The Rev. William Lau’s resignation from Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in St. Petersburg was announced in a news release late Wednesday after inquiries from a local television station.

Bishop Robert Lynch said an adult, who was not identified, approached him in May to lodge a sexual misconduct complaint against Lau.

“The adult complainant, noting that the incident occurred many years prior, asked for anonymity and expressed concern for the church,” the news release said. No further details were released.

Lau, 46, entered a rehabilitation program in Washington, D.C., in May, and is still there. Officials would not say what type of treatment he was receiving. He has been a priest since 1979.

Earlier this week, the Rev. Patrick Clarke of the Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor resigned from his parish after it was disclosed that he had been secretly married for 15 years. Someone sent a copy of his marriage certificate to Lynch.

At a Tuesday news conference called to answer questions about Clarke, the bishop also revealed that the Rev. Simeon Gardner, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lutz, had resigned after admitting he used $220,000 in parish money to silence a man who threatened to expose their sexual relationship.