Ordination: 1953

Notes: Fr. Richard T. Coughlin worked in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archdiocese of Boston, and Diocese of Orange. In 1985, a man reported to the Archdiocese of Boston that he was sexually abused by Fr. Richard Coughlin when he was a child from 1958 to 1962. A 2002 lawsuit accused Fr. Coughlin of sexually abusing a minor from 1962 to 1965 at St. Mary’s in Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1992, five men reported that Fr. Coughlin had sexually abused them when they were boys. Four of the men said they were abused between 1970 and 1983 when they were members of the All American Boys’ Choir that Fr. Coughlin started. Another former member of the All American Boys’ Choir came forward in 1993 and alleged that Fr. Coughlin sexually abused him as a child during choir bus trips between 1977 and 1980. In 1993, Fr. Coughlin was suspended from ministry and was ordered to cut ties with the All American Boys Choir. According to Archdiocese of Boston’s website, Fr. Coughlin is permanently restricted from ministry. Fr. Coughlin was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. He was also included in the Diocese of Orange’s list of clergy removed from ministry resulting from a credible allegation of sexual abuse. It is believed Fr. Coughlin lived in Yorba Linda, California from 2001 until his death in 2004. It is unknown whether he had access to children from 1993 until his death in 2004.

Assignments:

1954-1959 St. Patrick’s, Boston, MA

1960-1965 St. Mary’s, Lynn, MA

1966-1967 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Santa Ana, CA

1968-1972 St. Anthony Claret, Anaheim, CA

1973-1974 St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa, CA

1975-1985 St. Michael’s Norbertine Junior Seminary, Orange, CA

1986-1989 Unknown

1990-1993 Special Assignment

1993 Suspended from Ministry

1994-2004 Unknown

2004 Died