Fr. Richard Raphael Archer

Diocese of Baton Rouge (Dominican Friars)

Ordained: 1958

Removed: 2002

Assigned as Follows:

St. Joseph Catholic Church (Ponchatoula, LA)
Ponchatoula Funeral Home (Ponchatoula, LA)
St. Dominic Parish "in residence" (New Orleans, LA)
St. Elizabeth's Church (Elizabethtown, TN)
Dominican Friars of Raleigh (Raleigh, NC)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Richard Raphael Archer:

Fr. Richard Raphael Archer was ordained a priest in 1958, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. According to media reports, in 2018, the Dominican Province of St. Joseph released a list of Friars credibly accused of sexual misconduct. One name that was included was Richard Raphael Archer. Fr. Archer became a part of the Province of St. Martin de Porres when it was formed in 1979. The Order did not release any information as to when or where the alleged abuse occurred. He was officially removed from ministry in 2002. Some reports speculate the alleged abuse occurred in the New Orleans Archdiocese, where the province is based.

According to the website of St. Dominic in New Orleans, Fr. Archer was in residence there, even though the parish has a K-7 school. Richard Raphael Archer was in ministry for 65 years and was celebrated by the archdiocese in 2017.

On March 28th, 2019, the day after the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) publicly complained about Archer's presence at the parish, the archdiocese asked the Dominicans to move him.

According to media reports, in 2020, the Diocese of Baton Rouge added Fr. Richard Archer's name to its list of credible allegations of sexual abuse of one or more minors or vulnerable adults which allegedly occurred within the Diocese of Baton Rouge after its formation in 1961.

Archer is reportedly now living at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Louisiana, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Baton Rouge may now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Louisiana and nationwide. We can help.

Fr. Richard Raphael Archer – Diocese of Baton Rouge F