Msgr. Richard Powers
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 1963
Retired (in good standing): 2010
Removed: 2011
Permanently Restricted: 2013
Assigned as follows:
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- Our Lady of Mercy (Philadelphia, PA)
- St. Patrick (Norristown, PA)
- Catholic Foreign Mission Service (Venezuela)
- St. Veronica (Philadelphia, PA)
- St. Michael (Chester, PA)
- Incarnation of Our Lord (Philadelphia, PA)
- St. Michael the Archangel (Levittown, PA)
- Epiphany of Our Lord (Philadelphia, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Msgr. Richard Powers:
Msgr. Richard Powers was ordained a priest in 1963 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. According to media reports, his name appeared on a February 1994 memo from William Lynn, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Secretary for the Clergy, to James Molloy, the Vicar for Administration for the Archdiocese. The memo was a catalog of the sexual abuse allegations kept in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Secret Archives, which are files traditionally accessible only by the archbishop and, sometimes, one of his designees. Under Canon Law, the Archdiocese is required to maintain any potentially scandalous information in the Secret Archives. Of the summaries Lynn wrote, "only basic information is contained in this report so as not to have too much in writing on this matter."
Powers' name appears in the section labeled "Guilty of Sexual Misconduct with Minors." According to the summary, Powers "had a sexual relationship with a seventeen year old girl in Caracas, Venezuela, while with the Society of St. James," and that they occurred sometime before 1989. Powers was assigned to the Catholic Foreign Mission Service in Venezuela from 1967 to 1976.
Powers retired in good standing in 2010 but he remained at Epiphany of Our Lord parish until he was placed on administrative leave in 2011. According to media reports, He was permanently removed in 2013 after the Archdiocese's internal review board found him unsuitable for ministry (but made no recommendation on whether the abuse occurred or not).
Powers does not appear on any of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's lists of credibly accused priests. His current status with the Archdiocese is unknown.
Powers is still alive and is believed to be residing in the Darby, Pennsylvania, area.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.