Father Dwight E. Shrader
Diocese of Richmond
Ordained: 1982
Removed: 2003
Laicized: Unknown
Died: 2012
Assigned as follows:
- Church of Saint Therese (Chesapeake, VA)
- Holy Cross Regional School (Lynchburg, VA)
- Holy Cross (Lynchburg, VA)
- Saint John Neumann (Powhatan, VA)
- Saint John the Apostle (Virginia Beach, VA)
- Saint Matthew (Virginia Beach, VA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Dwight E. Shrader:
Father Dwight E. Shrader oversaw the founding of a Virginia Beach parish and school. According to media reports, in May 2003, a person came forward alleging child sexual abuse by him. The accuser was approximately 16 years old at the time. It was a one-time incident that happened within the previous ten years. No further details including what happened or where it occurred were provided. In June 2003, the Diocese of Richmond Review Board deemed the allegation credible, placed Father Shrader on leave, and sent him for therapy.
By the end of 2003, four men and one woman came forward alleging abuse (all but one as minors) by Father Shrader in the previous six years. All five, except for one, were minors at the time. According to a Diocesan spokesman, Father Shrader did not engage in sexual intercourse, but there was inappropriate physical contact and “sexually charged conversations” between an authority figure and children.
In February 2019, Father Shrader’s name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Richmond’s list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. He was eventually laicized, and died in 2012.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Richmond. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Richmond, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Richmond now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.