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Accountability

“We must make clear that we will not tolerate criminal and evil behavior, regardless of the rank and standing of the accused.” — Archbishop William E. Lori

Reporting
Repentance, Reform and Renewal
Clergy Accused of Abuse
Independent Review Board
Resources
News Coverage
Official Statements
Additional Media
Office of Child & Youth Protection

Reporting

Report Abuse

The Archdiocese of Baltimore complies with Maryland laws requiring reporting suspected child abuse to law enforcement. Under Maryland Law any person who has reason to believe a child has been subjected to abuse must report the suspected abuse to law enforcement, even if the potential victim is now over 18 years old and even in cases where the alleged perpetrator is deceased. To make a report, click here.

If someone associated with the Church, including clergy, employees, or volunteers of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, is suspected of abuse, then the suspected abuse must also be reported to the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth at 410-547-5348 or the Victims Assistance Line at 1-866-417-7469.

If you have reason to believe that a bishop has engaged in child sexual abuse or other sexual misconduct*, or has interfered with an investigation into sexual misconduct, please click here. To view a detailed description of the archdiocesan protocols for receiving and investigating a report of abuse by a bishop, click here. 

* Under Pope Francis’s Vos estis lux mundi and the Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the following forms of misconduct by bishops should be reported using this dedicated reporting system: 1) forcing someone, by violence or threat or through abuse of authority, to perform or submit to sexual acts; 2) performing sexual acts with a minor or a vulnerable person; 3) the production, exhibition, possession or distribution, including by electronic means, of child pornography, as well as by the recruitment of or inducement of a minor or a vulnerable person to participate in pornographic exhibitions; and 4) actions or omissions intended to interfere with or avoid civil investigations or canonical investigations, whether administrative or penal, against a cleric or a religious regarding the misconduct referred to in 1-3 above.

Report Ethical Violations

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is committed to ethical behavior and accountability. To make a report regarding violations of ethical behavior, visit the secure EthicsPoint site here.

Categories for reporting include: accounting/financial; confidentiality; fraud/theft; gifts/donations; harassment/inappropriate behavior; misuse of resources; workplace safety; child and youth protection and school safety.

Repentance, Reform and Renewal

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to download a fact sheet about FAQs concerning the abuse crisis and the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s response.

Accountability

Click here for a listing of accountability measures in place to ensure transparency and clear mechanisms for reporting sexual or financial abuse by bishops, clergy or church employees in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Five Things to Know

Click here for the “Five Things to Know” about financial transparency within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

How the Church Responds ...

Click here to download an informational graphic about the abuse crisis and the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s response.

Clergy Accused of Abuse

The Archdiocese of Baltimore takes seriously all allegations of sexual abuse against members of its clergy and publicly names those members of the clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. The list is regularly updated as new allegations arise or new information comes to light. 

All allegations of child sexual abuse are reported to law enforcement regardless of credibility, and victims are offered counseling assistance with a counselor of their own choosing.

2002 Catholic Review Report on Abuse

Read a special section of the Catholic Review published in 2002 that includes information about the decision to release names of those accused of abuse.

Read Here
Click here for names of priests and brothers accused of child sexual abuse

Independent Review Board

The Independent Review Board, made up mostly of lay people and headed by Judge Joseph F. Murphy, is an interfaith group including representatives from the legal community and law enforcement, health care, academia and social work.

Board members review individual allegations of abuse and help shape archdiocesan child protection policies.

“They make sure that we actually live up to our policies … to make sure that we are living up to the promises of our policy and of the charter,” said Jerri Burkhardt, director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection for the archdiocese.

Learn More about the Independent Review Board

2020 Annual Child Protection Report

Click here to download the 2020 Annual Child Protection Reports of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Independent Review Board (IRB) and of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Independent Review Board Members

Judge Joseph F. Murphy (Chairman)

Retired judge of Maryland Court of Appeals, former Chief Judge of Maryland Court of Special Appeals and former Deputy State’s Attorney for Baltimore City

Frederick H. Bealefeld III

Former police commissioner of Baltimore City

Beverly A. Cooper

Vice president, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Inc.

Michael R. Enright

Managing director, Beowulf Energy

Monsignor Robert J. Jaskot

Pastor of St. Mary-St. Francis-Holy Family Catholic Community, Frederick County

Sister Patricia M. McCarron, S.S.N.D., PhD.

Headmistress, Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson

Mary Page Michel

Community volunteer

Dr. Jay A. Perman, M.D.

Chancellor of the University System of Maryland

Iona R. Rudisill

Anti-human trafficking and exploitation program manager, Baltimore Child Abuse Center

Judge Alexander Wright

Retired Associate Judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals

Resources

Office of Child and Youth Protection

Click here to learn more about the Office of Youth and Child Protection
and its role in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

News Coverage

WYPR Interview

Archbishop William E. Lori was a guest on WYPR’S “Midday” program, discussing the meeting of U.S. Catholic bishops in Baltimore and the Catholic Church’s response to the sexual abuse crisis. Click play on the accompanying video link.

Catholic Review News & Commentary

Other News Coverage

  • June 6, 2019 | WBAL-TV: Archbishop Lori says he made the wrong call
  • Jan. 9, 2019 | Commonweal Magazine: The PA Grand-Jury Report: Not What It Seems
  • Nov. 20, 2018 | WYPR: Archbishop Lori’s interview on the “Midday” radio program
  • Nov. 15, 2018 | Washington Post: Here’s why the Vatican stopped American bishops from voting on responses to sexual abuse
  • Nov. 13, 2018 | Baltimore Sun: Some Catholic bishops urge conference to reach consensus on sex abuse crisis in American church
  • Nov. 9, 2018 | WBAL-Radio: Archbishop Lori Addresses Church Sex Abuse Scandal
  • Nov. 9, 2018 | Baltimore Sun: Baltimore archbishop outlines path toward reform and renewal in the Catholic Church
  • Oct. 25, 2018 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: W.Va. diocese to release names of accused clerics as it reviews abuse cases since 1950
  • Aug. 31, 2018 | Psychology Today: Separating Facts About Clergy Abuse from Fiction

OFFICAL STATEMENTS

Catholic Priest in Baltimore Removed from Ministry Pending Investigation

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is investigating of an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor involving Fr. Martin H. Demek, pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Baltimore.  
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