NEWS PROVIDED BY
Anglican Watch
April 11, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 11, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ — The criminal trial of Episcopal priest Richard Losch, indicted by a criminal grand jury over allegations he raped a boy at a New Hampshire Boy Scout camp, today ended in a hung jury. The news follows a decision by the court to exclude allegations of grooming of the alleged victim and other boys as “prior bad acts,” versus treating these events as an integral part of the allegations. Incidents of grooming include purportedly showering naked with groups of boys, encouraging them to go skinny dipping, and more.

Losch, a resident of Livingston Ala., was charged following a grand jury indictment with taking the alleged victim and three other boys across state lines to the former Indian Pond Boy Scout Camp, then located in Orford, New Hampshire, before the camp opened for the summer. With no other adults present, Losch allegedly arranged to share a bed with the victim, ultimately raping him.

The trial was marked by multiple ethically concerning statements by defense counsel Michael Iacopino, who asserted that the victim, who is being treated as anonymous:

• Was motivated by a desire for fame.
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• Sought money from Losch.
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• ­Sought money from the Boy Scouts.
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• ­Was motivated by anti-Catholic animus, despite the fact that the victim was raised Catholic and has never displayed anti-Catholic sentiment.
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• ­Was egged on by anti-priest abuse advocates, including Anglican Watch.
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• ­Was incentivized by differing political views from Losch.

Defense counsel also told the jury that Losch was cleared of allegations of wrongdoing by the Episcopal Church. However, Anglican Watch has seen no evidence to support this claim, or the other claims identified above.

To the contrary, multiple Episcopal Church officials have ignored, minimized, or covered up the allegations involving Losch. Those involved include:

• Then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who ignored pleas for help from the victim.
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• ­Bishop for Pastoral Development Todd Ousley
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• ­Title IV Intake Officer for Bishops Barb Kempf
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• President of the House of Deputies Julia Alaya Harris
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• ­­National Youth Ministry Officer Canon Myra B. Garnes
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• Safe Church Manager Bronwyn Skov
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• ­Assistant to the Presiding Bishop Sharon Jones
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• ­Bishop of Alabama, Glenda Curry
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• ­Alabama Title IV Intake Officer Rob Morpeth
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• ­Executive Assistant to Massachusetts Bishop Alan Gates, Laura Simons
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• ­Diocese of Massachusetts Alan Gates, who refused to respond to the victim’s requests for help.
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• ­Diocese of Massachusetts Title IV Intake Officer Starr Anderson
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• ­Disciplinary Board for Bishops President Bishop Nick Knisely
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• ­Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe
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• ­Presiding Bishop Delegate Herman “Holly” Hollerith.

Further, the Episcopal Church ignored pleas to address the matter from an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) bishop and the ELCA legal department.

The Episcopal Church still has not complied with mandatory reporting laws.

Meanwhile, Anglican Watch has received allegations that a second person has contacted law enforcement officials with reports that Losch sexually abused him as a boy. Anglican Watch has been unable to independently confirm these allegations.

Anglican Watch condemns the Episcopal Church’s indifferent and unethical response to these allegations, including the church’s refusal to hold bishops and other judicatories accountable for brushing off the victim’s pleas for assistance.

Moreover, Anglican Watch maintains that the shambolic and feckless response by the Episcopal Church to these allegations underscores the need for a massive overhaul of the Title IV clergy disciplinary process, including establishing a central point of accountability and follow-up, so that victims are not ping-ponged around the church in search of someone willing to act on their behalf.

“This situation underscores a painful truth,” says Anglican Watch official Eric Bonetti. “The Episcopal Church is a modern-day whitewashed tomb— attractive on the outside, reeking of filth and corruption on the inside. Moreover, don’t be fooled by claims to the contrary: The Episcopal Church does not effectively prevent or address abuse. Indeed, most of the time, it can’t even be bothered to respond.

“Simply put, the Episcopal Church is not safe for children, the elderly, LGBTQ persons, and other vulnerable populations,” Bonetti concludes.

Anglican Watch is the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church and addresses sexual and non-sexual abuse in various faith communities. Founded in 2015, the organization is online at www.anglicanwatch.com.

SOURCE Anglican Watch

CONTACT:  Eric Bonetti, 240-630-3767, eric@anglicanwatch.com