Father Julian B. Goodman
Diocese of Richmond
Ordained: 1966
Removed: 2002
Assigned as follows:
- Blessed Sacrament (Norfolk, VA)
- Holy Comforter (Charlottesville, VA)
- Holy Cross (Lynchburg, VA)
- Sacred Heart (Richmond, VA)
- Saint Andrew, (Roanoke, VA)
- Saint Ann (Colonial Heights, VA)
- Saint John Vianney Seminary (Richmond, VA)
- Saint Mary (Richmond, VA)
- Saint Paul (Richmond, VA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Julian B. Goodman:
According to media reports, in 1994, Father Julian B. Goodman admitted to sexually abusing a 14-year old teenage boy at St. John Vianney Prep Seminary and at a parish from 1976 to 1979. He was immediately placed on administrative leave from Blessed Sacrament parish in Norfolk, where he was serving as pastor. He was sent to St. John Vianney Hospital, a notorious treatment facility in Pennsylvania for pedophile priests, for treatment. He was cleared to return to ministry two months later. In August 2002, the priest’s victim came forward again and demanded his story be made public. Goodman was allowed to retire as pastor of Holy Comforter Catholic Church in Charlottesville without privileges.
In March 2019, a man publicly stated that he told the Richmond Diocese in 2016 that Father Goodman abused him as a teenage altar boy at Holy Cross parish in Lynchburg from 1966 to 1967. The allegation was deemed credible and Diocesan officials sent the case to the Vatican, which declined to laicize the priest. Police also started an investigation into the priest, but dropped it because he reportedly suffered from a “mental condition” that would render Goodman incompetent to stand trial.
In February 2019, Father Goodman‘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 [email protected] to discuss your options today.