Published on Thursday, April 6, 2023 by Staff
On April 5, 2023, the Maryland Attorney General released a redacted report entitled “Attorney General’s Report of Child Sex Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.” The 463 page Report identifies 156 clergy members who have been credibly determined to have committed acts of sexual abuse against children. The Report is the culmination of a Grand Jury investigation commenced in 2018 by the Maryland Attorney General’s office. Beyond detailing the history of child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese, the Report also details the efforts by the Catholic hierarchy to cover-up the abuse and protect the Archdiocese and the clergy members who committed horrific acts of abuse against children.
“As the case descriptions in this Report make clear, from the 1940s through 2002, over a hundred priests and other Archdiocese personnel engaged in horrific and repeated abuse of the most vulnerable children in their communities while Archdiocese leadership looked the other way. Time and again, members of the Church’s hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible. When denial became impossible, Church leadership would remove abusers from the parish or school, sometimes with promises that they would have no further contact with children. Church documents reveal with disturbing clarity that the Archdiocese was more concerned with avoiding scandal and negative publicity than it was with protecting children.”1
Also described are the grooming, intimidation, threatening and spiritual damnation which often accompany childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by priests and other members of the clergy. Such acts by a “trusted” religious leader who purportedly is God’s representative on earth strikes at the core of a child’s essence. As the Report chronicles:
“Abusers often singled out children who were especially isolated or vulnerable because of shyness, lack of confidence, or problems at home, and they presented themselves as protectors and friends of the children and their families. Abusers preyed upon the children most devoted to the church: the altar servers and choir members, those who participated in church youth organizations and the Scout troops, and especially those who worked in the rectories answering telephones in the evening and on the weekends. They groomed the victims with presents and special attention. They told their victims the abuse was “God’s will” and that no one would doubt the word of a priest. Some threatened that the victim or victim’s family would go to hell if they told anyone. They attempted to normalize sexual behavior as “rough housing.” When confronted, they denied the behavior if plausible. If denial was impossible, they would minimize the extent of the abuse and describe it as weakness or aberration.”2
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Effective October 1, 2023, a new law will go into effect with a revised Statute of Limitations applicable to child sexual abuse. This follows the release of the report on clergy sex abuse in the State of Maryland by the Maryland AG. Once in effect, this new law will open up the Maryland Statute of Limitations for hundreds of child sex abuse victims whose claims were previously barred.
Perhaps as strong and enduring as any other effects on a survivor of abuse are the shame and guilt that can be overwhelming and debilitating, compounded by a resulting mistrust of others and avoidance of any acknowledgment or conversation concerning the abuse. We recognize how difficult and oftentimes frightening acknowledging the abuse and describing it can be. Be assured that any conversation about your situation with our firm is confidential. When we respond to an inquiry, we do so with the sensitivity, respect, and discretion necessary to provide meaningful feedback. If you prefer to speak with us directly regarding your incident, please call The Meneo Law Group at 1-866-371-8506 1-866-371-8506 or send us a confidential email at confidentialinquiry@meneolawgroup.com.
Cases may be filed anonymously to protect the victim's identity.
Names 147-156 were redacted.
1Page 9 of the Attorney General’s Report of Child Sex Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
2At pages 1-2 of the Report.
If you prefer to speak with us directly regarding your incident, please call The Meneo Law Group at 1-866-371-8506 1-866-371-8506 or send us a confidential email.