A New Hampshire criminal trial of Episcopal priest Richard Losch ended earlier today in a mistrial due to a hung jury. Losch was previously indicted for the rape of a boy in the mid 1970s.
The news follows the court’s refusal to allow into evidence allegations that Losch sexually groomed the victim, encouraging him and other boys to go skinny dipping. (Indeed, a year prior, Losch told students that showering with the Scouts was preferable to showering with adults. He also showered with the victim and a group of other boys, the only adult in the shower. Need we say more?) The court did so on the basis that these were “prior bad acts,” versus the correct approach, which is to regard them as an integral part of the alleged crime at hand, child sexual abuse.
Additionally, defense counsel for Losch, Michael Iacopino, made a series of ethically questionable claims during the trial, including that the victim, known by the pseudonym “Jack,”:
- Was motivated by a desire for fame and fortune, despite the victim’s request to remain anonymous.
- Sought money, despite the fact that the Boy Scouts have provided only nominal financial assistance to the victim – and by nominal, we mean de minimus.
- Was motivated by anti-Catholic sentiment — despite the fact that “Jack” was born and raised in the Catholic faith, and has never made anti-Catholic statements.
- Was motivated by political perspective.
- Was egged on by this and other “priest abuse” publications. This is a fabrication, as “Jack” began pursuing the issue long before being in contact with Anglican Watch.
Additionally, defense counsel falsely told the jury that Losch had been cleared by the Episcopal Church of wrongdoing. This is an outrageous fabrication and shocking to the conscience, as the Diocese of Alabama has done everything in its power to avoid dealing with the allegations, including lying to law enforcement.
Anglican Watch is disturbed by Iacopino’s statements, including the potential violation of his Rule 3.3 duty of candor to the tribunal. We also note that civil litigation and Episcopal clergy discipline carry a burden of proof of “preponderance of the evidence,” and hope that “Jack” will investigate both options.
As to Losch’s future, Anglican Watch encourages all parents, caregivers, and other responsible parties to demand that Losch be held accountable by the Episcopal Church.
Moreover, while we cannot prove it, we strongly believe that Losch has victimized others. We encourage anyone in that situation, or anyone with additional information, to contact law enforcement. We also welcome leads, tips, and other information and will treat all such information as confidential.
As for the Episcopal Church and its handling of this matter, the church’s conduct has been abysmal. Indeed, the response has ranged from defeaning silence, to passing the back, to cover-up, to providing false information to law enforcement. At no point has anyone in the denomination alerted the public to the allegations, encouraged other victims to come forward, or fulfilled their legal obligation as mandated reporters.
Episcopal Church officials who have failed to act with integrity in this matter include:
- Then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
- Bishop for Pastoral Development Todd Ousley
- Title IV Intake Officer for Bishops Barb Kempf
- President of the House of Deputies Julia Alaya Harris
- National Youth Ministry Officer Canon Myra B. Garnes
- Safe Church Manager Bronwyn Skov
- Assistant to the Presiding Bishop Sharon Jones
- Bishop of Alabama, Glenda Curry
- Alabama Title IV Intake Officer Rob Morpeth
- Executive Assistant to Massachusetts Bishop Alan Gates, Laura Simons
- Diocese of Massachusetts Alan Gates
- Diocese of Massachusetts Title IV Intake Officer Starr Anderson
- Disciplinary Board for Bishops President Bishop Nick Knisely
- Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe
- Presiding Bishop Delegate Herman “Holly” Hollerith
Further, the Episcopal Church ignored pleas to address the matter from an ECLA bishop and the ELCA legal department.
Thus, we have no words to adequately describe the corruption and organizational narcissism the Episcopal Church has displayed in this matter. Indeed, at every level, the denomination has shown itself to be what Jesus described as a “whitewashed tomb, pretty on the outside, while reeking of filth and corruption on the inside,” and a “brood of vipers.”
This Lent, the Episcopal Church has some serious soul-searching to do in light of its egregious corruption, including its unwillingness to address child sexual abuse.
Indeed, there is no evidence to suggest that the denomination even understands why its behavior is wrong, which is both telling and profoundly damning.
Leave a Reply