Episcopal priest will stand trial for child sexual abuse; SNAP urges other victims to come forward

For Immediate Release: January 8, 2024

 We are grateful to the New Hampshire grand jurors who last year delivered an indictment against Episcopal priest Richard Losch for raping boy in the 1970s.  At the time of the assault, Fr. Losch was working at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Marblehead, Massachusetts. The priest was also an assistant headmaster at Tower School in Marblehead and a Boy Scout leader.

SNAP applauds the brave man, Jack, who came forward in 2021 to report his assault to authorities. While we know that Fr. Losch has denied the charges, we also know that false accusations of child sexual abuse are extremely rare. We believe Jack and stand in solidarity with him. It is particularly difficult to be the first person to publicly accuse a respected clergyman of child sex crimes, and we honor Jack’s courage in speaking out.

We hope that any others who may have been victimized by Fr. Losch or others in the Episcopal Church will be inspired by Jack’s bravery and come forward. There is no need to suffer alone and in silence! There are people who understand that delayed disclosure is common, and who will believe you and support you.   

Fr. Losch’s trial is scheduled to begin in June, 2024, so there is still time for any other victims to help hold him accountable. The priest was not only active in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, he also worked as a principal and math teacher at two schools in North Carolina, St. Timothy's School in Raleigh and Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington. Fr. Losch now lives in Livingston, Alabama, where he worked at two parishes for years, St. James Episcopal and St. Alban’s Episcopal.

In addition to the criminal indictment, the Episcopal Church in Alabama has launched a Title IV investigation into the priest. According to the Diocese, which refused to disclose either when this probe was launched or its status, the priest is no longer in active ministry.

Moreover, in 2020 the Boy Scouts added Fr. Losch to its volunteer screening database, which precludes him from any future involvement in scouting. This was done after a proof of claim was filed accusing Father Losch of abusing a scout.

For additional biographical information on Fr. Losch, go here. To read more about the case, go to Anglican Watch and search for “Losch.”

Again, we applaud the jurors for believing Jack, as we do, and providing him with a small measure of justice. Child sexual abuse leaves life-long scars that never go away completely, but we are hopeful that Jack will receive additional validation and justice when his case goes to trial this summer. 

CONTACT:  Eric Bonetti, SNAP Anglican/Episcopal ([email protected] ), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Steve Sheehan, SNAP Massachusetts ([email protected], 617-319-0477), Charles Bailey, SNAP North Carolina ([email protected], 315-657-5073), Sue Bailey, SNAP North Carolina ([email protected], 315-657-3446), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board of Directors President ([email protected], 814- 341-8386)