Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Richard J. Kurtz

Father Richard J. Kurtz was a Jesuit priest who served in multiple Catholic parishes and schools throughout his ministry career. In 2011, he was arrested in Chicago on charges of sexually abusing a young boy outside Denver, CO, during a visit. He was also convicted of possessing and producing child pornography in Missouri several years later. 

• Primary Entity Name: Richard J. Kurtz
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Richard Kurtz, Fr. Richard, Fr. Kurtz, Rev. Richard J. Kurtz
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest, Teacher
• Current Status: Deceased (2024)

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Father Richard Kurtz, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Publicly identifying accused priests is crucial to ensure the safety of those who come into contact with these individuals. The following entities have listed Richard J. Kurtz due to substantiated sexual abuse allegations against him:

• The Jesuits Midwest Province, on December 17, 2018
• The Archdiocese of Detroit, on June 10, 2019
• The Attorney General’s office in Illinois, in a 2023 report on clergy abuse

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1977

Years in Active Ministry: 1977-2011 (roughly 34 years)

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Chicago, Archdiocese of Detroit, Diocese of Cleveland

Restrictions: Permanently removed from public ministry

Criminal Convictions: Charged in Chicago with sexually assaulting a boy in 2011, then charged with production and possession of child pornography in Missouri in 2014

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: 2018 by the Jesuits Midwest Province, 2019 by the Archdiocese of Detroit

Assignment History

Primary Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1983-1984 – Gesu in University Heights, OH

2003-2007 – Jesuit Community at Loyola University in Chicago, IL

Non-Church Assignments:

1977-1978 – Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago, IL

1978-2001 – University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Detroit, MI

2008-2011 – Colombiere Center in Clarkston, MI

Known Allegations

According to diocesan records, the first allegations of sexual abuse against Kurtz were made in 2001. At the time, he was teaching at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Michigan. According to the accusations, Kurtz had recently assaulted a young boy during a visit to Denver, CO, where he had originally been ordained. 

Upon hearing this report, the Society of Jesus removed him from his teaching position at the school. Reports from the order state that the assault was reported to civil authorities, and Kurtz was placed on ministry restrictions. For several years after Kurtz’s removal, he moved around to various communities, including the Jesuit Community at Loyola University.

In 2011, Kurtz was arrested in Chicago on charges of sexually assaulting an underage boy. This was connected to the abuse committed in Denver in 2001. The FBI also discovered that Kurtz was in possession of child pornography. He allegedly had secret tapes of players on the University of Detroit Jesuit High School hockey team when they were changing in the locker room in 1998 and 1999. 

Kurtz pleaded guilty in 2012 and was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation in Missouri. However, in 2014, he was charged with producing, transporting, and possessing child pornography, to which he again pleaded guilty. He faced a minimum of 10 years in prison, but eventually passed away in 2024. 

Summary: After Kurtz sexually assaulted a minor while visiting Denver in 2001, it caught up to him in 2011 when he was arrested, sentenced to supervised probation, and then arrested a second time in 2014 for child pornography charges. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• The Society of Jesus (Kurtz’s religious order)
• Archbishop John Francis Dearden, Detroit (1958-1980)
• Archbishop Edmund Casimir Szoka, Detroit (1981-1990)
• Bishop Anthony Michael Pilla, Cleveland (1980-2006)
• Archbishop Adam Joseph Maida, Detroit (1990-2009)
• Archbishop Francis Eugene George, Chicago (1997-)
• Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron, Detroit (2009-)

Associated Organizations:

• Jesuit School of Theology
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
• University of Detroit Jesuit High School
• Colombiere Center

Institutional Actions and Review

Since Kurtz belonged to the Society of Jesus rather than the Archdiocese of Detroit, reports about the church’s response are complicated. The Jesuits claimed that the abuse was reported to civil authorities in 2001, immediately after the assault occurred. However, other reports indicate the investigation of Kurtz’s abuse did not begin until 2011. 

Kurtz was removed from his teaching position at the high school when the abuse was first reported to the order in 2001. Kurtz wasn’t arrested until 2011 after he had moved to the Chicago area. The arrest was in connection with the 2001 assault, as well as possession of child pornography. The arrest sparked a protest outside the Archdiocese of Detroit, although leadership claimed that authority over the matter rested with the religious order that ordained Kurtz. 

In 2012, Kurtz was sentenced to at least 10 years of supervised probation in Missouri. However, he was once again charged with child pornography production and possession in 2014, after which he was sentenced to prison in 2015. Kurtz passed away in 2024, after being identified publicly by several dioceses in lists of accused Michigan priests. 

Timeline

1977 – Ordained by the Society of Jesus

1977-2001 – Assigned to various schools and parishes

1978 – Assigned to a teaching position at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School

2001 – Allegedly sexually assaulted a young boy while visiting Denver, CO

2001 – The abuse is reported to the Jesuits, after which they removed Kurtz from his teaching position and placed him in restricted ministry

2011 – Kurtz moved to Chicago and was arrested on charges of sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography

2012 – Sentenced to 10+ years of supervised probation in Missouri

2014 – Arrested on additional charges of child pornography

2015 – Sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison

2018 – Included on the Jesuits Midwest Province list of credibly accused priests

2019 – Included on the Archdiocese of Detroit’s list of credibly accused priests

2023 – Named in the Office of the Attorney General in Illinois’s 2023 report on clergy abuse

2024 – Kurtz died

Speak With an Attorney

As a victim of clergy sexual abuse, you may have grounds to pursue civil legal action against the at-fault parties, whether that includes the individual abuser, a religious order, or a specific diocese. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we stand by survivors of sexual abuse as they pursue justice and fair compensation for their legal damages. We know what it takes to build a strong claim and will provide compassionate legal support throughout your lawsuit.

If you have suffered because of the sexual misconduct of a church official, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Michigan clergy abuse lawyer. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:

• A profile of Richard J. Kurtz on Bishop Accountability
• A list of Kurtz’s assignments as reported by Bishop Accountability
• A press release from the Detroit Free Press about the Jesuits’ response to Kurtz’s allegations
• A list of accused priests from the Jesuits Midwest Province
• A list of credibly accused clergy members in the Archdiocese of Detroit

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.