Catholic Diocese of Richmond Finds Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse against Former Priest ‘not Credible’

By Keyris Manzanares
WRIC-TV
January 28, 2021

https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/richmond/catholic-diocese-of-richmond-finds-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-against-former-priest-not-credible/

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After conducting an investigation, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond announced Thursday that they have found allegations of child abuse made against a former priest are not credible.

Thomas Long, a former priest of the diocese, was accused of child sexual abuse during his time in Norfolk, Virginia in 1986 when he served at Christ the King Catholic School. In 1988, Long took a leave of absence and has since had his priestly faculties suspended.

The diocese said it will not add Long’s name to a list of clergy whom credible and substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse have been made.

Allegations against Long were investigated after the Catholic Diocese of Richmond received a report of an allegation of child sexual abuse on June 8, 2020.

“Following a lengthy investigation by the Diocesan Review Board, Bishop Barry C. Knestout of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond has determined that the allegations of child sexual abuse made against Thomas Long, a former priest of the diocese, are not credible,” the diocese’s release stated.

“For this reason, Long will not have his name added to the diocesan list of clergy against whom credible and substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse have been made.”