LOWELL (MA)
Lowell Sun
By LISA REDMOND, Sun Staff
LOWELL -- Theadora and Alexandra Peterson say their father abused and rejected them years ago.
Their father just happens to be a priest.
The twins, now 20, have filed a lawsuit in Lowell Superior Court alleging that Rev. Lucien Richard, a priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Lowell, has refused to acknowledge them as his daughters, yet subjected them to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Richard admits he fathered the girls during an affair with a college student two decades ago, but denies allegations that he rejected and abused them.
When the twins were young, the Oblates were advised that Richard had fathered the two girls and about the alleged abuse. Nevertheless, the community continued to support Richard as a priest and “failed to take steps to terminate or reduce his abuse,” according to the lawsuit.