Spotlight on abuse: Episcopal priest Victor Richer

the Rev. Canon Victor Richer, canon to the ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Montana from 1972 until 1995, resigned from the priesthood in July 2002 after ecclesiastical charges surfaced regarding his rape of a 15 year old female parishioner at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls, Montana between 1964 and 1972. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1957 after studying at Philadelphia Divinity School. He was chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Ministry from 1971 to 1978, deputy to Province 6 synod in 1962, 1975, and 1976, and a General Convention deputy in 1976. The accusation was outside of the statute of limitations, and Richer was permitted by Bishop Charles L. Keyser to resign without admitting guilt.