Father John Raymond Bostwick III
Diocese of Richmond
Ordained: 1969
Removed: 1996
Assigned as follows:
- Holy Cross, (Lynchburg, VA)
- Our Lady of Lourdes (Richmond, VA)
- Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (West Point, VA)
- Saint George (Scottsville, VA)
- Saint John Neumann (Powhatan, VA)
- Saint Mary (Richmond, VA)
- Saint Paul (Richmond, VA)
- St. Catherine Laboure (Harrisburg, PA)
- St. Leo the Great (Lancaster, PA)
- Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary (Lebanon, PA)
- Diocese of Lafayette, LA
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father John Raymond Bostwick:
Father John Raymond Bostwick was ordained for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and transferred to the Diocese of Richmond. According to media reports, in the summer of 1987, a man alleged that when he was between 14 and 15 years old, Father Bostwick tried to "make genital contact with him" while at the priest's home in Virginia.
In December 1989, Bishop Walter Sullivan of the Diocese of Richmond wrote a letter to the Diocese of Harrisburg Chancery Office regarding Father Bostwick's unapproved service in Harrisburg at St. Catherine Laboure church. Sullivan said that Bostwick was uncooperative with the Bishop's directive that he attend counseling. Despite his insubordination, Bostwick was not suspended, but the Diocese of Richmond did not give him any more assignments in Richmond.
Father Bostwick officially received permission to minister outside of the Diocese of Richmond in 1990.
In 1992, Father Bostwick was assigned to the Diocese of Lafayette at the request of his friend, a Lafayette Bishop. When the abuse allegations surfaced, he was suspended from duties and sent for treatment.
In 1996, Bostwick was on loan to Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland when he was accused of sexual abuse of a boy from 1980 to 1982 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to the allegation, Father Bostwick became close to a family and eventually stayed at their home overnight. The family had a boy between 12 and 14 years old. They drank beer together and the priest allegedly fondled the boy's genitals. Father Bostwick reportedly also took the boy to St. Mary's Seminary when school was out of session, and fondled the boy's genitals on overnight stays at the seminary. When Bostwick attempted to have the boy touch his genitals, the boy was frightened and ran, locking himself in another room. The victim said he recalled Father Bostwick becoming emotional, falling to the floor crying and apologizing to him. Bostwick was placed on administrative leave in 1996. In 1997, the Diocese of Harrisburg released a public statement regarding the allegation.
In 2002, the same victim from 1987 reported the same incident to the Diocese of Harrisburg. He said he passed out from drinking alcohol while they watched a movie together. He woke up in another room when Father Bostwick reached for his genitals but stopped him from making contact.
In August 2018, Father Bostwick's name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Harrisburg's list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. He was also included in the August 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. In September 2018, his name was added to the Archdiocese of Baltimore's list.
In February 2019, Father Bostwick's name appeared publicly on the Diocese of Richmond's list of clergy credibly accused of sex abuse of minors.
His current whereabouts are unknown.
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 adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.