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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

Repentance, Reform and Renewal

ARCHBISHOP LORI MEDIA BRIEFING: Archbishop William E. Lori and Bishop Adam Parker hosted a Jan. 15 media briefing at the Catholic Center in Baltimore to discuss the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s ongoing response to the clergy abuse crisis. Watch above.

WYPR INTERVIEW: Archbishop William E. Lori was a guest on WYPR’S “Midday” program, discussing the recent meeting of U.S. Catholic bishops in Baltimore and the Catholic Church’s response to the sexual abuse crisis. Listen above. 

Jan. 6, 2019 | Catholic Baltimore Radio Show: Bishop Parker discusses Archdiocese of Baltimore’s response to clergy sexual abuse crisis

Dec. 24, 2018 | A Christmas message from Archbishop Lori

Nov. 18, 2018 | A message from Archbishop Lori

Nov. 16, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori reflects on completed bishops’ meeting

Nov. 9, 2018 | Baltimore Sun: Baltimore archbishop outlines path toward reform and renewal in the Catholic Church

News & Commentary

Child and Youth Protection

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Cardinal Wuerl acknowledges he knew of one accusation against predecessor

In a second letter issued in mid-January about what he knew and didn't regarding abuse allegations involving his predecessor, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Washington's retired archbishop, apologized Jan. 15 for...
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Pope wants abuse summit to lead to clarity, action

At the upcoming meeting on protecting minors, Pope Francis wants leaders of the world's bishops' conferences to clearly understand what must be done to prevent abuse, care for victims and...
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Archbishop Lori holds news briefing on clergy abuse crisis

Archbishop William E. Lori and Bishop Adam Parker held a Jan. 15 news briefing at the Catholic Center to discuss the Archdiocese of Baltimore's ongoing response to the clergy abuse...
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REPORT ABUSE

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

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.

Allegations of abuse involving bishops of the Archdiocese of Baltimore should be made both to civil authorities and then to the secure EthicsPoint site here. Reports about bishops are sent directly to retired judges who are not employees of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and serve on the Independent Review Board.

For more information, click here. 

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.

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

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

Judge Ellen M. Heller
Retired judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City

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

Iona R. Rudisill
Anti-human trafficking and exploitation program manager, Baltimore City Child Abuse Center

 

CLERGY CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF ABUSE

In September 2002, the Archdiocese of Baltimore published a list of 57 priests and religious brothers who had served in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and who had been accused in their lifetime of child sexual abuse. The disclosure did not include priests and brothers who were accused after their deaths, nor did it include a few instances where an investigation concluded that the facts did not indicate sexual abuse had occurred.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore also released names of clergy accused after 2002 of child sexual abuse during their lifetimes and the names of those priests disclosed in a Grand Jury Report released by the Pennsylvania Attorney General in August 2018, who who either had an assignment in Maryland or were accused of engaging in sexual abuse of minors in Maryland.

All allegations of child sexual abuse are reported to authorities and to the Archdiocese’s Independent Child Abuse Review Board.

Click here or the button below to read full lists of all names that have been released.

Click here for list of names
2002 Catholic Review report on abuse

Click here to 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, descriptions of the alleged abuse and the names of those who had credible allegations of abuse against them. 

 

A Response to the Netflix Series, "The Keepers"

Promise to Protect and Promote Healing

Click here to watch video interviews with key figures and access fact sheets, statements, news articles and other resources.

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

Jan. 15, 2019 | Archbishop Lori Announces Measures to Combat Sexual Abuse Crisis, Hold Local Bishops Accountable

Dec. 24, 2018 | A Christmas message from Archbishop Lori

Nov. 18, 2018 | A message from Archbishop Lori

Oct. 25, 2018 | Missionary Discipleship in Crisis

Sept. 24, 2018 | Archbishop Lori Informs Clergy of Maryland Attorney General’s Review

Sept. 13, 2018 | Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop William Lori Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

Sept. 7, 2018 | Archdiocese Updates its Online List of Abusive Priests with Names Disclosed in PA Grand Jury Report

Aug. 27, 2018 | Statement of Archbishop Lori on Accountability of Bishops

Aug. 14, 2018 | Declaración del Arzobispo William E. Lori sobre el Difunto Cardenal William H. Keeler y el Informe del Gran Jurado de Pensilvania

Aug. 14, 2018 | Statement of Archbishop William E. Lori on the Late Cardinal William H. Keeler and the Report of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury

Aug. 14, 2018 | Statement from the Diocese of Harrisburg on release of Grand Jury Report

July 30, 2018 | Accountability for all a must

Sept. 15, 2017 | Charter 15 years later

June 12, 2017 | Bishop W. Francis Malooly responds to ‘The Keepers’

May 17, 2017 | An important message from Archbishop Lori


Click here to read a sampling of homilies and other remarks by priests and deacons of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. 

News Coverage

Jan. 9, 2019 | Commonweal Magazine: The PA Grand-Jury Report: Not What It Seems

Jan. 6, 2019 | Catholic Baltimore Radio Show: Bishop Parker discusses Archdiocese of Baltimore’s response to clergy sexual abuse crisis

Nov. 20, 2018 | WYPR: Archbishop Lori’s interview on the “Midday” radio program

Nov. 16, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori reflects on completed bishops’ meeting

Nov. 16, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Path for reform goes through Rome

Nov. 16, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Bishops hear frank presentations, discussion on abuse crisis

Nov. 15, 2018 | Washington Post: Here’s why the Vatican stopped American bishops from voting on responses to sexual abuse

Nov. 14, 2018 | Catholic Review: Bishop Parker joins Facebook Live panel discussion at meeting of U.S. bishops

Nov. 14, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Psychologist addresses bishops on helping abuse victims to heal

Nov. 13, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori addresses Baltimore media at bishops’ meeting

Nov. 13, 2018 | Baltimore Sun: Some Catholic bishops urge conference to reach consensus on sex abuse crisis in American church

Nov. 13, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Cesareo fears for church future if more action not taken on abuse

Nov. 13, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Survivors of clergy child sex abuse tell U.S. bishops of rejection, pain

Nov. 12, 2018 | Catholic Review: Protesters call for change outside bishops’ conference in Baltimore

Nov. 12, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Papal nuncio urges U.S. bishops to restore trust, bring about reform

Nov. 12, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Vatican asks USCCB to delay vote on sex abuse response proposals

Nov. 9, 2018 | Catholic Review: Pilgrims set out on 50-mile walk in penance, prayer from Emmitsburg to Baltimore

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. 30, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori: During Baltimore meeting, U.S. bishops will work to restore trust

Oct. 30, 2018 | Catholic Review: Baltimore Archdiocese priests to participate in 50-mile penitential pilgrimage

Oct. 29, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archdiocese tightens screening requirements to enhance child protection

Oct. 25, 2028 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: W.Va. diocese to release names of accused clerics as it reviews abuse cases since 1950

Oct. 15, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Archbishop Lori: Catholics living out their God-given vocations will help church heal

Oct. 2, 2018 | Catholic Review: Nativity parishioner’s lunch means rosary outside Catholic Center

Sept. 27, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Victim assistance coordinators comfort in a behind-the-scenes ministry

Sept. 24, 2018 | Catholic Review: Maryland attorney general will review archdiocesan records related to sexual abuse of children

Sept. 21, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archdiocese of Baltimore to hold virtual town-hall meetings for input on sexual abuse crisis

Sept. 18, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori hears faithful’s concerns about scandals

Sept. 17, 2018 | Catholic News Service: Archbishop Lori with West Virginia’s faithful on ‘journey of healing, reconciliation and a hopeful future’

Sept. 8, 2018 | Catholic Review: Parishes, parishioners across Baltimore Archdiocese join day of prayer and fasting for reparation in abuse crisis

Sept. 7, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archdiocese adds names of 10 priests in Pennsylvania report to local list of accused priests

Aug. 31, 2018 | Psychology Today: Separating Facts About Clergy Abuse From Fiction

Aug. 31, 2018 | Catholic Review: Archbishop Lori meets with priests to hear concerns, offer support

 

Videos

Archbishop Lori hosts media briefing

Archbishop William E. Lori hosted a media briefing Jan. 15 at the Catholic Center in Baltimore to discuss the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s ongoing response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. (Jan. 15, 2019)

Message to the Faithful

In the wake of the recent meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, Archbishop William E. Lori delivered the following special message via video and audio in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore Nov. 17-18. (Nov. 17-18, 2018)

Day of Reparation

Archbishop William E. Lori discusses the Sept. 7 Day of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (Aug. 29, 2018)

Message from Archbishop Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori discusses the Church’s response to the ongoing sexual abuse crisis. (Aug. 29, 2018)

A Reflection by Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori discusses clergy child sexual abuse and accountability. (Aug. 14, 2018)

Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive set of procedures established by the USCCB in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, is marking its 15th anniversary. (Oct. 30, 2017)

Catholic Baltimore Radio Interviews

Bishop Adam Parker speaks about the Archdiocese of Baltimore response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Listen above. 

Archbishop Lori speaks about accountability during an Aug. 12, 2018 radio interview. Listen above. 

Jerri Burkhardt, director of the archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection, speaks about the charter for the protection of children in a Sept. 24, 2017 radio interview. Listen above.

RESOURCES

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Click here to download an information graphic about the abuse crisis.

Office of Child and Youth Protection

Click here to visit the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of Youth and Child Protection, which provides information about safe environment training, archdiocesan policies related to the protection of children and the reporting of abuse, the Charter for the Protection of Young People and much more.

Social Media

Stay connected with our activities throughout the Archdiocese