Father Mark Richard
Diocese of Lafayette
Ordained: 1996
Resigned: date unknown
Assigned as follows:
- St. Joseph Catholic Church (Rayne, LA)
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Fr. Mark Richard:
Father Mark Richard was ordained a priest in 1996, who served in the Diocese of Lafayette. According to media reports, in January 1997, he was arrested for indecent behavior with a juvenile when a patrolling deputy found him in a parked car on a dead-end road with a 14-year-old boy. Both the priest and the boy were shoeless, and their clothes were disheveled. Fr. Richard told police that the boy was having problems and needed to talk.
In May 1997, the Lafayette Parish District Attorney announced that they had dropped the charge of indecent behavior against Fr. Richard. After the charge was dropped, the Diocese of Lafayette announced that they were conducting their own investigation into the incident. A review of Fr. Richard’s personnel file showed that “there has never been any allegation of sexual improprieties,” the Catholic Bishop Edward O’Donnell said. Father Richard told him nothing improper happened, but he was instructed to undergo counseling in Maryland.
According to media reports Mark Richard resigned from the priesthood, though no date is given.
The current whereabouts of Mark Richard are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.