RICHMOND, Va. — A retired Catholic priest who was previously a pastor at several Hampton Roads churches is accused of sexually abusing a child in the early 1970s.
A representative for the victim, who is now dead, brought forward the allegations against Rev. Msgr. Raymond Barton. Barton retired in 2011 and is not currently serving in ministry.
Barton was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond in 1966. He was pastor at numerous churches over the years, including Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Norfolk, St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, and as co-pastor for Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach.
Additionally, he served as associate pastor at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond and was a faculty member at St. John Vianney Seminary in Goochland. For a time he was also a pastor at Holy Comforter Catholic Church in Charlottesville.
The Catholic Diocese of Richmond has reported the allegations to civil authorities.
The Diocese urges individuals who have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, religious, lay employee or volunteer of the diocese to report abuse directly to law enforcement, including Child Protective Services (CPS) at 1-800-5527096, and by calling the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-833-454-9064.
Individuals are also encouraged to contact the 24-hour confidential Victim Assistance Reporting (VAC) number at 1-877887-9603 or email vac@richmonddiocese.org to report sexual abuse.