Former Rector Renounces Priesthood in Wake of Misconduct Allegations
Episcopal News Service. June 12, 2002 [2002-148-2]
A retired Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Southwest Florida has renounced his orders and been deposed from the priesthood following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Rev. Richard Arthur Pollard, former rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Tarpon Springs, renounced his orders June 8. Pollard was formally deposed, or removed from the Sacred Order of Priests, on June 10 by Bishop John Lipscomb.
Pollard was rector of the 500-member, 110-year-old parish from 1974 until his retirement in 1992. Before serving in Tarpon Springs, he was the associate rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tampa from 1969-1974 and vicar of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Zephyrhills from 1964-69. He still resides in the Tampa Bay area.
Lipscomb's office had received verbal and written statements from two men, now adults, alleging that Pollard sexually abused them in the 1970s. They were minors at the time the abuse allegedly occurred.
In a June 7 meeting with Lipscomb, Pollard was counseled about his rights under church law and was provided with an advocate. The alleged victims also have been offered counseling of their own choosing. The diocese will not release additional information about the alleged victims.
The diocesan Standing Committee met Saturday, June 8, and decided to refer the matter to the church attorney for investigation, which could have led to a formal ecclesiastical charge, called a presentment. But when Pollard was informed of the Standing Committee's decision, he announced he would renounce his orders.
Diocesan spokesman Jim DeLa said Pollard did not admit to wrongdoing when he renounced his orders.
The bishop and members of the diocesan pastoral response team met with about 60 members of the All Saints congregation on June 10 and have also contacted the other congregations in the diocese and in the Diocese of Western New York, where Pollard had previously served.
'The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida has made it clear, through existing policy and training requirements, that sexual misconduct on the part of leadership of the Church, both lay and ordained, is never acceptable,' declared a statement from the diocese. 'The diocese is committed to seek justice and reconciliation for all involved.'
In a June 10 letter to diocesan clergy, Lipscomb asked them to 'refrain from gossip, speculation, rumor and innuendo' regarding the case. 'It is important that our energy be given to prayer for healing for those who brought the allegations and their families, the Pollards and all who are and have been involved in these proceedings,' Lipscomb concluded.
DeLa said he does not know of any other allegations against Pollard and that the diocese has not had any other sexual abuse allegations involving minors.
The Diocese of Southwest Florida consists of 79 congregations with 39,000 baptized members.