Fr. Richard Castillo – Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2021 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father Richard Castillo

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee

Ordained: 1983

Removed: 1997

Assignment History:

  • 1983-1986: St. John the Evangelist (Pensacola, FL)
  • 1983-1986: Pensacola Catholic High School (Pensacola, FL)
  • 1983-1987: Youth Activities Office at the Diocese of Pensacola
  • 1986-1989: Good Shepherd (Tallahassee, FL)
  • 1989-1997: St. Thomas the Apostle (Quincy, FL)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Richard Castillo:

Fr. Richard Castillo is a priest of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee whose faculties were withdrawn in 1997 after Castillo admitted to sexually abusing four boys.

In 1996, the parents of one of Castillo’s victims reported to the Diocese and local police that Fr. Castillo sexually abused their 17-year-old son. Allegedly, the Pensacola Catholic High School student attended one of Castillo’s parties during the summer of 1989. Castillo provided beer to his underage guests and a place to crash if they overindulged. The boy went to sleep and awoke to find the priest performing oral sex on him.

Castillo was relieved of his duties at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in 1996. He enrolled himself in a church-run medical facility to undergo a mental evaluation.

The Diocese of Tallahassee-Pensacola investigated but said it could not corroborate the story. Two male brothers saw the story on the news and were infuriated because they said they too reported abuse by Castillo when they were 14 and 13 in Pensacola but were ignored. Castillo finally admitted to molesting four teenagers. No details were released about the fourth victim. He was permanently barred from ministry, sent for treatment, and barred from contact with children.

Castillo is named on the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee 2020 list of priests that have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor or minors.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee 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.