Jacksonville, Fla. – A former altar boy and student of Christ the King Parish in Jacksonville, has accused his pastor at the time, Father W. Thomas Larkin, of sexually abusing him in 1961.

The Diocese of St. Augustine first learned of the allegation in an email from the complainant on Feb. 7, 2011. The Victim Advocate of the diocese responded immediately reaching out with pastoral care and seeking information to help the complainant file a formal report. The complainant said he was not ready to provide any details and that he was undergoing counseling.

After sporadically corresponding with the Victim Advocate the complainant, on August 8, 2012, provided the diocese a written narrative of what occurred but said he was not quite ready to be interviewed. To date, no one from the diocese has had the opportunity to question the complainant, though the request has been made.

In accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. Bishops in 2002, the Diocese of St. Augustine has a Review Board in which a majority of its membership is lay persons not in the employ of the diocese. They review allegations of sexual abuse and advise the bishop in his assessment of abuse cases.

Father Larkin was the founding pastor of Christ the King Parish that was formally established in February 1955. He served as pastor until July 1967. He was appointed to St. Cecelia Parish in Clearwater that same year and served the parish until his ordination as the second Bishop of St. Petersburg on May 27, 1979.

On Nov. 28, 1988, Bishop Larkin announced his retirement as bishop for health reasons. Though he stepped down from his many administrative duties, he remained active in ministry serving the elderly and assisting with confirmations and other episcopal ceremonies.

Bishop Larkin died on Nov. 4, 2006 at the age of 83.