Baltimore Priest Sex Abuse Victims Can Now Seek Justice 

A new report by the Attorney General of Maryland outlines over 60 years of sexual abuse and coverup by Catholic priests. If you or a loved one suffered sexual abuse by a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Herman Law can help. 

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In April 2023, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued a report that alleges 156 Catholic clergy members and others in the Archdiocese of Baltimore abused at least 600 children over the course of six decades, from 1940 through 2002. 

Over 300 people responded to a clergy abuse hotline established by the Office of the AG, some telling their stories for the first time. 

A Grand Jury investigation examined criminal allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy, seminarians, deacons, and employees of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Subpoenas issued to the Archdiocese, as well as individual parishes, religious orders, and St. Mary’s Seminary, resulted in hundreds of thousands of documents, dating back to the 1940s. 

Attorney General Report Alleges Over Six Decades of Abuse in Archdiocese of Baltimore

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Sex Abuse? 

A person who suffers from sexual abuse often endures long-term mental and emotional problems. Victims of sex abuse may have difficulties maintaining normal relationships and suffer from sexual dysfunction. Sometimes, it takes years of therapy to heal. 

The Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Foundation shares the lifelong physical and emotional effects of sexual abuse: 

Can I File a Claim for Child Sexual Abuse Against the Archdiocese of Baltimore? 

Yes. According to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, child sexual abuse can have lifelong, lasting psychological effects. If a priest, clergy member, or other employee of the Archdiocese abused you as a child, you can still seek help for the abuse and receive treatment. 

A staggering amount of abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore occurred between 1940 and 2022. The Child Victims Act of 2023 provides victims with the opportunity to file claims for abuse, regardless of when the abuse occurred. 

“The incontrovertible history uncovered by this investigation is one of pervasive and persistent abuse by priests and other Archdiocese personnel. It is also a history of repeated dismissal of cover up of that abuse by the Catholic Church hierarchy.” 

- Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, April 2023 

Clergy Abuse Can Cause Lifelong Struggles, But There is a Path to Hold Abusers Accountable

Child sexual abuse is a horrifying act that affects children, families, and communities around the globe. The lack of achieving justice for an abuser’s wrong and vile actions can keep victims struggling with the abuse and feeling hopeless. 

Abuse can have lifelong repercussions on the victim’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. You now have an opportunity for adult victims to seek justice and accountability. 

Maryland is the First State to Create Indefinite Timeframe to File Civil Suits for Child Sex Abuse 

Victims of childhood sexual abuse often delay sharing about their abuses until adulthood. Statute of limitation (SOL) laws set a maximum amount of time for parties in civil litigation to initiate civil lawsuits. 

In April 2023, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed into law the Child Victims Act of 2023. Maryland joined 15 other states to repeal the statute of limitations to file civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse, making it easier for victims to hold perpetrators and institutions accountable for abuse that occurred decades ago. 

The Child Victims Act of 2023 creates an unlimited lookback period and revives claims that were previously barred by SOL laws. 

A List of 146 Abusers in The Archdiocese of Baltimore 

In its 2023 report, The Office of the Attorney General included every current or former Catholic clergy member, seminarian, deacon, member of a Catholic religious order, or other employee who has been the subject of the credible allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland. The Office of the AG considered records received in response to its Grand Jury subpoena to the Archdiocese, victim and witness statements, and public record. 

The names of 10 alleged abusers were redacted from the list by order of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City because they were not known to be deceased at the time of the Report and had not previously been listed as credibly accused or identified. The names are listed in alphabetical order.

List of Abusers 

The Archdiocese Covered Up Abuse for Over 80 Years 

For over 80 years, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States, covered up abuse. The problem was widespread, with some parishes, schools, and congregations having more than one abuser in their midst at a time. 

Eleven abusers lived and worked in St. Mark Parish in Catonsville between 1964 and 2004. According to Politico, one deacon admitted to molesting over 100 children. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Civil Lawsuit in Maryland? 

In April 2023, Gov. Wes Moore signed into law the Child Victims Act of 2023. The Act repealed both the statute of limitations and statute of repose, laws that establish when civil claims are barred by time limits and can no longer be initiated. 

Maryland became the 16th state to repeal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and the first state to pass an indefinite lookback window. 

Previously, pursuant to a 2017 amendment to the statute of limitations, victims could file lawsuits until they were 38 years old. If the abuse occurred prior to 2017, they could file lawsuits only until they turned 21. 

Our experienced Maryland sexual abuse attorneys can guide you through the process of filing a child sexual abuse claim. 

The Child Victims Act of 2023: