Richardson's wife, Mary Moreno Richardson, who is also a member of the Episcopal Church's clergy, remains a priest in good standing, according to the church.

"Obviously, this is a grave matter with serious consequences," Mathes wrote. "Because of Scott's significant ministry among us, we are all wounded by this."

Mathes said in the letter that he could share little about the nature of Richardson's offense, but that there were "victims." He said the matter "does not relate to financial improprieties or minor children," and Richardson agreed to a accept a "sentence of deposition," which removed him from the clergy.

Later, Mathes told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the offending conduct did not appear to have taken place in San Diego or involve the cathedral or members of its congregation.

Mathes' letter invited parishioners to attend a "community conversation" this coming Tuesday at the cathedral.

Richardson could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone Thursday at his home in San Francisco told a reporter to "go to hell," and hung up the phone.

A search of court records in the San Francisco area did not turn up civil or criminal cases involving Richardson or his wife.

Calls and an email requesting comment from St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco, where Richardson served most recently, were not returned.

The Episcopal Church reviews complaints and disciplines clergy through a process known as Title IV, according to a spokesman for the Episcopal Diocese of California. The process is clear and applied consistently, but contents of the complaints are strictly confidential to protect the complainant and the respondent.

Bay Area Bishop Marc Handley Andrus, with whom Richardson reached the formal accord settling the disciplinary proceedings, addressed the matter in a sermon last month at St. Mary the Virgin.

While Andrus did not provide details of the complaint that led to Richardson's departure, he said the church worked to take care of "those who have been trespassed upon," while continuing to love and pray for Richardson and his wife.

"He is a person with great gifts," Andrus said of Richardson during his sermon. "He has done many beautiful things here in the relatively short time he's been here."

Richardson, originally from Berkeley, graduated from University of California Santa Barbara in 1977 with a degree in religious studies. He worked at St. Paul's Church in Ventura before enrolling at the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1986. He joined St. Paul's in San Diego in 2003 after five years in Pasadena. Richardson left St. Paul's in 2012 to serve at St. Mary the Virgin, San Francisco.

During his time at St. Paul's in San Diego, Richardson may have prevented disaster at the church. In December, 2006, a man reportedly sneaked into the church basement and set a fire during Sunday services. Smelling smoke other than incense, Richardson went down to investigate. He discovered the fire and the church was evacuated. Services continued outside for the more than 300 people in attendance that day.

In 2011 news article about Christmas services at St. Paul's in San Diego, parishioners praised Richardson's leadership, calling him "fearless," "smart," "likable," and "the one who creates the sense of community" at the church.