Church in Crisis
Rev. James Hargadon

Louisville Courier-Journal
September 29, 2002

[See the main page of this special section on the Church in Crisis.]

Ordained in 1955, Hargadon has been named in four lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Louisville. He retired early this year after surgery from St. Patrick Church, where he was a senior associate pastor. He has made no comment on the allegations.


ST. POLYCARP

PLAINTIFF: John Kaelin
AGE: 41
ADDRESS: Waxahachie, Texas
OCCUPATION: Department manager, distribution center
FILED SUIT: May 23
DEFENDANT: Archdiocese of Louisville
DATE AND LOCATION OF ALLEGED ABUSE: 1974, cabin on trips to Rough River ACCUSATION: Oral sex
DETAILS OF ALLEGATION: Kaelin said Hargadon performed oral sex on him, then on Lawrence Thompson, another plaintiff, as they slept in bunk beds. Both were altar boys and worked part time in the garden at St. Polycarp. Kaelin said he woke up and asked Hargadon "what the hell he was doing. He told me to lay quiet, that it would be over in a minute." Kaelin said he witnessed part of the episode involving Thompson. Kaelin also said Hargadon would give the boys beer and smoked marijuana with them after they finished chores in the garden.
WAS ANYONE TOLD? The boys talked to each other the next day about what happened, Kaelin said. But he said he never told his parents. Kaelin said that about 12 years ago, when he was seeking an annulment of his first marriage, he told what happened to a bishop, the Rev. Thomas Tschoe[p]e. Kaelin also said he mentioned it to his parish priest, the Rev. Mark Seitz, during a confession that was required when Kaelin and his second wife decided to renew their vows in a Catholic church.
IN THE PLAINTIFF'S WORDS: "I have mixed feelings about the church. It is hard to keep your faith when you've seen something like this happen to you. I still believe in the Catholic faith but I have problems going to church. I try to block out what happened, but some days you can and some days you can't."