Father Richard McLoughlin
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 1969
Removed/Reassigned: 1990
Leave of absence: 1994-2001, 2002-2005
Psychological exams: 1991, 1994 (1), 1994 (2)
Faculties removed: 2004
Permanently removed from ministry: 2005
Died: 2020
Assigned as follows:
- 1969-1973 Our Lady of Peace (Milmont Park, PA)
- 1973-1977 Bishop Kenrick High School
- 1973-1974 St. Rose of Lima (North Wales, PA)
- 1974-1977 St. Gabriel's Hall
- 1977-1981 Director, Camp Neumann
- 1981-1990 Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA)
- 1981-1990 Villa Nazareth
- 1990-1994 St. Bede the Venerable (Holland, PA)
- 1994-2001 Leave of Absence
- 1994 In residence, Presentation B.V.M. (Wynnewood, PA)
- 2001-2002 Chaplain, Camilla Hall (Immaculata, PA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Richard McLoughlin:
Father Richard McLoughlin was ordained a priest in 1969 and served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He served in multiple parishes throughout his career. His name was first disclosed as accused in the Philadelphia 2005 Grand Jury Report. He remained in active ministry until just before the report was published, despite the fact that he had been accused of child sexual abuse at least once, in 1990.
According to the report, in January 1990, a man reported to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that he was sexually abused by McLoughlin as an altar boy at St. Charles Borromeo parish in 1968, while McLoughlin was a seminarian. The man says the abuse continued into 1969, after McLoughlin was ordained and was assigned to Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park.
At the time, McLoughlin was assigned as principal at Roman Catholic High School. He remained in that position until the end of the school year and was then transferred to St. Bede the Venerable. According to the grand jury report, McLoughlin underwent a psychological exam as a result of the 1990 allegation. Most likely, the evaluation occurred at St. John Vianney Center, a notorious treatment facility for pedophile priests in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, that was owned (and regularly used) by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
According to the grand jury report, he also underwent two more psychological examinations in 1994, which suggests a second allegation may have arisen in that time period; it would be highly unusual for a priest to be sent for one seemingly out of the blue, much less two. Of course, we are unable to say with certainty the reason for the 1994 examinations without having seen McLoughlin's personnel file documents first, but it is certainly very suspicious.
Indeed, McLoughlin's name appears on a secret 1994 memorandum written by Msgr. William Lynn, who has since been convicted of child endangerment for his involvement in the massive coverup of sexual abuse in Philadelphia. The memo indicates that, as of 1994, McLoughlin was the subject of allegations of abuse and that "inquiry is still ongoing." This too suggests that there was another allegation after the 1991 report.
McLoughlin remained a priest in good standing until September 2004, when, according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, his faculties were permanently suspended. He accepted a life of prayer and penance" in February 2005 in lieu of facing a canonical proceeding for involuntary laicization (removal from the priesthood). The exact nature of his daily activities, or his daily supervision, is unknown.
McLoughlin remained a priest without faculties until his death in 2020.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.