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Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests - Tennessee

 

 

 

Franklin T. Richards

Assignment record from the National Catholic Directory. 

1974 Christ the King Nashville
1975 Christ the King Nashville
1976 Christ the King Nashville Director of Camp Marymount
1977 Christ the King Nashville Associate director of Vocations (Ron Dickman is diocesan director of Vocations) Director of Camp Marymount
1978 St. Henry, Nashville Associate director of Vocations (Ron Dickman is diocesan director of Vocations)
1979 St. Patrick Church Nashville Director of Camp Marymount
1980 St. Patrick Church Nashville Director of Camp Marymount
1981 St. Patrick Church Nashville Director of Vocations (Nashville)
1982 St. Patrick Church Nashville Director of Vocations (Nashville) 
1983 Knoxville Catholic High, principal  Knoxville
1984 Knoxville Catholic High, principal  Knoxville
1985 Knoxville Catholic High, principal  Knoxville
1986 Christ the King Nashville 
1987 Christ the King Nashville 
1988 Immaculate Conception Clarksville
1989 Immaculate Conception Clarksville
Left the priethood March 1, 1989
1990 Absent on leave.   
1991 Absent on leave.

(Although Richards left in 1989, he is listed as absent on leave in the NCD until 1992)
Frank Richards was assigned in Middle and East Tennessee during his priesthood and has multiple victims in both of these areas.  Frank Richards admitted in 1999 that he abused numerous young men because the statute of limitations had run on his crimes.  He has since recanted, but his many victims tell a different story. 

Richards does not have a lot of press coverage; he is usually put tied in with Edward J. McKeown whose crimes parallel Richards but who got caught with the statute of limitations. 

In essense, Richards is free because of the law, not because he doesn't have as many victims as McKeown.   Ironically, many of victims were abused by BOTH Richards and McKeown. 

See the article by Dan Moffat in the Palm Beach Post.  It sums it up well what happens when statutes run out and people go unpunished. 
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Below are links to a number of articles which mention Richards.  There are very few articles that speak of him alone.  Because of his affiliation with McKeown, he has kept off the radar screen. 
  • Article 1   Sexual abuse cases prompt new policy
  • Article 2   Diocese says it tried to protect the public
  • Article 3   Catholic Diocese says it's not liable if boys abused after priest left
  • Article 4   Judge says nothing links McKeown case

The
assignment record for Frank Richards can be found here.  It is obtained from public records in the Official Catholic Directory.  After 1985 when he left Knoxville Catholic High School under allegations of abuse, his record is unreliable. 

Most of the articles above are found in Word format by following this link to this file.   File of Richards Information.  Much Richards information can be found mixed in with Edward McKeown's information which can be found here.  The McKeown file is much larger than Richards. 

SNAP of Tennessee has traced Richards to Florida.  Is he still officially a priest?  Was he defrocked?  Was the church in Florida warned about Richards?