Monsignor Richard E. Smith
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Ordained: 1966
Removed: 2007
Died: 2008
Assignment History
- 1966-1967: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Woodlawn, MD)
- 1967: St. Bernard Parish (Baltimore, MD)
- 1968-1973: St. Mary Parish (Cumberland, MD)
- 1973-1978: St. Mark Parish (Fallston, MD)
- 1978-1983: St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Riviera Beach, MD)
- 1983-1987: St. Clare (Essex, MD)
- 1987-1996: Our Lady of Sorrows (Owensville, MD)
- 1996: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Crofton, MD)
- 1996-2007: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Ellicott City, MD)
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Monsignor Richard E. Smith
Monsignor Richard E. Smith was a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. In 2019, Msgr. Smith was listed on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors list. In April 2023, Maryland’s Attorney General released a report alleging 156 Catholic clergy members sexually abused at least 600 children over six decades. The report lists the names of the abusers, including Msgr. Smith.
According to the Attorney General’s report, in 1966 or 1967, the Archdiocese became aware of an inappropriate relationship that Msgr. Smith had with an adult woman in his parish. Msgr. Smith received counseling but failed to stay away from the woman, resulting in a leave of absence taken at the Broad Creek Memorial Boy Scout Camps.
In 2007, a woman reported having been sexually abused by Msgr. Smith in the 1960s, when the victim was in 9th grade. Msgr. Smith brought the victim to the sacristy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (known as St. Gabriel since 1997) in Woodlawn, where Msgr. Smith sexually abused the victim.
According to the report, another victim reported having been sexually abused over the course of several months by Msgr. Smith in the 1960s at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Woodlawn. The victim was a high school student and parishioner who attended daily mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Msgr. Smith would bring the victim to the sacristy after mass, where he would sexually abuse the victim. On several occasions, Msgr. Smith brought the victim to his room in the rectory, where he sexually abused the victim.
According to Archdiocesan records, in 2007, Msgr. Smith had his priestly duties revoked and entered inpatient treatment for a sexual disorder. He would receive full retirement benefits.
Ain 2007, a man reported that he was sexually abused by Msgr. Smith in 1980 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Riviera Beach, when the victim was 7 or 8 years old. The victim’s mother had previously reported the abuse. The Archdiocese entered a settlement with the victim in 2011.
According to the report, another man reported in 2007 having been sexually abused by Msgr. Smith while a 10-year-old altar boy and student at St. Jane Frances in Riviera Beach. Msgr. Smith sexually abused the victim over 50 times over the course of two years while the victim was in 7th and 8th grade. In 2007, the Archdiocese entered a settlement with the victim.
In 2009, a woman reported having been sexually abused by Msgr. Smith in 1967 while preparing to make confirmation at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope in Woodlawn, according to the report.
According to the report, in 2018, a woman reported having been sexually abused by Msgr. Smith in the 1960s, while the victim was 14 or 15 years old. The victim was recovering from an injury in the hospital, where Msgr. Smith- then a seminarian- visited her and sexually abused her on at least three occasions.
In 2022, a woman reported having been sexually abused by Msgr. Smith in 1989, when she was 17 and 18 years old, at Our Lady of Sorrows in Owensville.
Msgr. Smith died in 2008.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Maryland, contact our office today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help. Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.