The diocese of Alabama has initiated a Title IV investigation against a retired priest who has been indicted in New Hampshire on historic sexual abuse charges. The Rev. Richard Losch (89), who served from 1969 to 1983 at St Michael’s Episcopal Church in Marblehead, as assistant headmaster at the Tower School, and as a Boy Scout leader was indicted last summer by a grand jury in Grafton County, NH for aggravated felonious sexual assault involving a minor.
Losch allegedly molested the victim, identified as “Jack”, at Indian Pond Boy Scout Reservation in Piermont, New Hampshire. Jack stated that on a camping trip Losch climbed into his bed and raped him. The boy was also a parishioner of Losch’s at St Michael’s and a student at the Tower School. Speaking to the Marblehead Current, Jack said Losch would groom young boys at the school, at the parish and in scouting, and believes there were other victims.
“What [Losch] did to me was pure evil. Evil that forever changed who I was and who I would become. It instantly ended my childhood. It permanently changed the physical structure of my brain. It shattered my little boy’s soul,” Jack wrote in his survivor statement.
“I was betrayed by my teacher, my Scout leader and my chaplain, a priest. Much later, I would realize that I was also betrayed by the church, my school and the Scouts,” Jack said.
In 1986 Losch moved to the diocese of Alabama and served as rector at St. James Episcopal Church in Livingston. The diocese of Alabama reports that Title IV proceedings have been initiated against Losch, who no longer holds a pastoral position.
An investigation by Marblehead police began in November 2021 after Jack and a member of the clergy filed a complaint with the police, leading to last year’s New Hampshire indictment.
On 14 December 2024 a spokesman for the Diocese of Massachusetts released a statement saying:
“Safe church communities are a priority, so any report of clergy misconduct is a grievous and serious matter warranting activation of the Episcopal Church’s investigation and disciplinary process (referred to as “Title IV” within the church’s canons). Because Richard Losch’s canonical residency has been in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama for the past several decades, the Title IV process in this situation is under the Diocese of Alabama’s jurisdiction.”
“The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts has cooperated with the Diocese of Alabama in that process, and St. Michael’s Church in Marblehead with New Hampshire law enforcement pursuing the current indictment. Diocese of Massachusetts Bishop Alan M. Gates and diocesan staff have reached out to St. Michael’s Church to offer pastoral care and support to its clergy and congregation. Our prayers, care and concern continue for any and all affected. Anyone who may have been harmed during Richard Losch’s time in Marblehead, or anyone with a complaint of clergy misconduct, is encouraged to contact a diocesan Title IV intake officer. Contact details are on the diocesan website at https://www.diomass.org/resources/clergy-disciplinary-process.”
