Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin – Diocese of St. Petersburg

On Behalf of | Jan 18, 2021 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Nicholas McLoughlin

Diocese of St. Petersburg/Diocese of Venice

Ordained: 1966

Removed: 2018

Assignment History:

  • 1973 – 1982: Corpus Christi Parish (Temple Terrace, FL)
  • St. John Vianney (St. Pete Beach, FL)
  • 1972-1973: Bishop Barry and Notre Dame High Schools (St. Petersburg, FL)
  • 2007-2018: Our Lady of Grace Parish (Avon Park, FL)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Nicholas McLoughlin:

Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin was suspended in 2018 after the Diocese of St. Petersburg received an allegation that he sexually abused a minor child.  In April 2019, the Bishop of Venice announced that the Diocese of St. Petersburg found the allegation to be credible and that McLoughlin would be retiring from his position in the Diocese of Venice as a result.

In late 2019, a lawsuit was filed alleging sexual abuse of an adult female parishioners at Our Lady of Grace in Avon Park, Florida. According to the lawsuit, Father McLoughlin abruptly stood up at the start of confession, approached the parishioner, and reached out to touch her. As he reached out to touch her, she thought that Father McLoughlin was going to make the sign of the cross on her forehead. Much to her surprise and dismay, Father McLoughlin proceeded to forcefully grope the victim’s right breast and aggressively kiss her. She yelled at Fr. McLoughlin to stop, and she struggled to break away from his powerful grip.

This is not the first time that Father Nicholas McLoughlin has been accused of sexual misconduct. In November 2018, the Diocese of Venice announced that McLoughlin was being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into a complaint alleging that he molested a child at Corpus Christi Parish in Temple Terrace, Florida in the 1970s. At that time, McLoughlin would have been under the supervision of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida.  If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Florida, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Florida and nationwide. We can help.

Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.