[1] Among the early missionaries was Stephen Badin, who set out on foot for Kentucky on in 1793, sent by Bishop John Carroll of the Diocese of Baltimore.

For the next 14 years Badin traveled on foot, horseback and boat between widely scattered Catholic settlements in Kentucky and the Northwest Territory.

[2] In 1808, Pope Pius VII erected the Diocese of Bardstown, covering Kentucky and most of the Northwest Territory.

In early 2002, Williams went on leave as bishop of Lexington after sexual abuse allegations arose from his service with the Archdiocese of Louisville.

[10] In May 2024, Brother Christian Matson, a hermit and Benedictine oblate employed by the diocese, came out publicly as transgender.

[13][14][15] Police arrested Reverend Leonard B. Nienaber in April 1993 on charges on sexual abuse and indecent or immoral practices with others.

The nine complainants accused Nienaber of abusing them as minors between 1962 and 1978 when he was pastor of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church.

[16] Nienaber pleaded guilty to ten counts of child molestation in 1994, received a ten-year suspended sentence and was remanded to live at a church facility in Missouri for the rest of his life.

[15] Will L. McGinnis III sued the diocese in June 2002, stating that he had been sexually abused as a 14-year-old altar boy at Cathedral of Christ the King in 1983 by Reverend Bill Fedders.

In June 2005, the diocese permanently suspended Fedders from ministry and ordered him to live a life of penance and prayer.