Father Richard Schaefer
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Ordained: 1958
Removed: N/A
Assigned as follows:
- 1958-1961 St. Philip Neri (Northport, NY)
- 1961-1962 St. Sylvester (Medford, NY)
- 1962-1969 Absent on Leave
- 1969-2021 Unknown
Summary of Abuse Allegations Against Father Richard Schaefer:
According to media reports, from 1958 to 1961, Father Richard Schaefer was in charge of a group of young boys who wanted to be priests at St. Philip Neri in Northport, New York. In 2003, he was named in a lawsuit against the Diocese of Rockville Centre alleging that repeatedly sexually abused one of the boys. The alleged abuse occurred on trips, in the rectory, in the priest’s car, and once at the boy’s house to hear confession because he was sick.
The lawsuit claimed that Father Schaefer would touch, kiss, and fondle him saying that he loved him and that the contact was normal. It also stated that the priest sexually abused five other boys in the group. After a group of parents complained, he was transferred.
Father Schaefer is listed on the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s 2021 List of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The list states that the alleged sexual abuse occurred at St. Philip Neri, on Boy Scout trips, at Fr. Schaefer’s family member’s house, in Fr. Schaefer’s car, at hotels, and a private home in Long Island, NY. His current whereabouts 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 Rockville Centre in New York. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in New York, contact our office today. In October 2020, the Rockville Centre Diocese filed for federal bankruptcy protection. The Court will resolve all claims of sexual abuse in this process but strict filing deadlines will apply and no late claims will be considered, so contact us today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New York and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.