Originally Posted by
Kilted Rogue
The Catholic church did keep very good records.
Of course! 
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the words "clergy," "cleric," "clerk," and the surname "Clark / Clarke" all come from the same root words indicating the ability to read and write. The white clerical collar originally didn't indicate ordination so much as that ability. What we are then, is clerks in holy orders, and good record-keeping would be the expected norm even more then when the priest was often the only literate individual in the community than now when govenment fulfills many of those functions. This, I am told, is also the reason that the clergy and Clark / Clarke tartans are so similar.
As a totally off-topic aside, my late and much beloved drama professor Jim Clark made his theatrical entrance on the first day of lectures with a dramatically presented statement much like the following: "My name is Clark. Professor Clark to you. In Scotland there are two ways to spell "Clark." The Clarks with an "e" are horsethieves! We spell our name without an "e." We... are sheepthieves!" With no further explanations or introductions of the course of any kind he launched into his first lecture.
I loved the man dearly.
Rev'd Father Bill White: Mostly retired Parish Priest & former Elementary Headmaster. Lover of God, dogs, most people, joy, tradition, humour & clarity. Legion Padre, theologian, teacher, philosopher, linguist, encourager of hearts & souls & a firm believer in dignity, decency, & duty. A proud Canadian Sinclair with solid Welsh and other heritage.
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