Fr. Harlan B. Clapsaddle: Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Fr. Harlan B. Clapsaddle

Ordained:  1977

  • 1978: St. Mary Church, McHenry, IL (RCK)
  • 1979-1981: St. Thomas More Church, Elgin, IL (RCK)
  • 1982-1987: St. Edward Central Catholic High School, Elgin, IL (RCK)
  • 1988-1997: St. Anne Church, Dixon, IL (RCK)
  • 1998-1999: Unknown
  • 2000-2002: Provena Cor Mariae Center, Rockford, IL (RCK)
  • 2003-2009: Unknown
  • 2010-2017: Retired (RCK)
  • 2018-2019: Unknown

In January 1997, the Diocese of Rockford removed Fr. Harlan B. Clapsaddle from St. Anne’s in Dixon, Illinois, after allegations of child sexual abuse were made against him. In approximately the late 1970s, Fr. Clapsaddle is alleged to have sexually abused three brothers while he worked as a deacon at St. James in Rockford. The Rockford diocese found the allegations credible and sent Fr. Clapsaddle to treatment before he was reassigned to minister to the elderly at Provena Cor Mariae Center in Rockford. In 2002, the allegations against Fr. Clapsaddle were made public. On May 3, 2002, Fr. Clapsaddle resigned from his sacramental ministry position at Provena Cor Mariae Center and was transferred by the Diocese to an undisclosed location to stay with friends. In 2018, Fr. Clapsaddle was included in the Diocese of Rockford’s list of “priests against whom a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor has been reported.” From 2002 to the present, Fr. Clapsaddle’s status as a priest, whereabouts, and whether he has access to children are unknown.