Baltimore Clergy Abuse Attorneys

Lawyers for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse by Priests and Clergy Members in Baltimore, MD

Recent developments in Maryland law have opened the courthouse doors to survivors of child sexual abuse. On April 11, 2023, Governor Wes Moore signed the Child Victims Act of 2023 (CVA) into law. The CVA eliminates the statute of limitations and the statute of repose for survivors of child sexual abuse, permitting survivors to pursue civil claims against individual perpetrators and the organizations or entities that facilitated the abuse, regardless of when the abuse occurred. This law went into effect on October 1, 2023.

The CVA represents an important step to providing justice and healing for survivors of child sex abuse. While every survivor has their own individual experience of abuse, a common thread in many survivors' stories is difficulty reporting the abuse. One study shows that the average age at the time of reporting abuse is 52. The CVA revives claims that were barred under the previous law, allowing survivors to hold perpetrators and the institutions that have enabled their abuse accountable.

At Silverman Thompson, our multi-faceted team of attorneys is uniquely positioned to help survivors navigate the many issues and challenges that arise in claims involving child sexual abuse. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience advocating tirelessly on behalf of survivors, and we have been recognized as national leaders in crime victim rights. More than that though, we recognize the significant trust that a client places in us when they hire our firm, and we are committed to handling each case with skill, vigor, and compassion.

Attorney General's Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Governor Moore signed the CVA into law shortly after the release of the Attorney General's 463-page report on clergy sexual abuse in Baltimore's Archdiocese. The report details accounts of abuse perpetrated by over 150 priests, deacons, sisters, and non-clerical employees over whom the Archdiocese either had oversight or possessed records related to their abuse. Over 600 children are known to have been abused by the individuals referenced in the report, but this most likely represents only a fraction of the total number.

As the Attorney General's report notes, reporting rates are generally low: U.S. Department of Justice statistics show that only 22.9% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported in 2020. For sexual assaults committed against children, reporting rates tend to be even lower, particularly if the abuser was someone known to them.

The Attorney General's report reveals the gravity and pervasiveness of abuse taking place in some of Maryland's most trusted institutions. If you or a loved one is a survivor of clergy or other childhood sexual abuse, you are certainly not alone.

Survivors of child sex abuse often experience profound physical, emotional, and psychological harm. This harm may persist throughout their lives, and initiating a civil action against an abuser can feel daunting and overwhelming, even if the abuse occurred many years ago. In all of our survivor's rights cases, we are dedicated to advocating for and working alongside clients to help them achieve justice and closure. Far too many survivors experience re-victimization through our justice system. We strive to provide individualized guidance and support to clients throughout the legal process. We also understand that healing is just as important as seeking justice, and we help clients navigate the legal system with that in mind.

If you are a survivor of child sex abuse, we are here to help. Please contact us at 410-385-2225 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Resources for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

The National Sexual Assault Hotline at RAINN, the Rape and Incest National Network, can be reached by calling 1-800-656-4673. RAINN connects callers to a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in the area. They can help provide access to multiple free, beneficial services, including:

• Confidential assistance from staff members who are trained to help sexual abuse victims
• Help locating local health facilities that have the necessary training to assist sexual assault victims or provide services such as forensic examinations related to sexual assault
• The ability to speak to a person who can discuss what happened
• Resources on finding local services to help victims heal and recover
• Referrals to local services that can provide long-term support for victims of sexual abuse
• Information related to specific local or state laws that apply to victims of sexual abuse
• Information about how to address medical issues that victims may experience

Other hotlines that can provide help with issues related to child sexual abuse include:

• National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
• Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Hotline: 410-576-6312

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault is another valuable resource in these cases. Maryland's Rape Crisis and Recovery Centers provide confidential services that are meant to help victims and their loved ones move forward after suffering sexual assault or sexual abuse as children or adults. The available services include:

• Crisis intervention services, including a 24-hour crisis hotline where victims can speak to counselors who have the training needed to listen to them and provide information about their options
• Counseling for victims and referrals to additional treatment providers
• Accompaniment of victims as they attend police interviews, attend court, or receive care in hospitals, ensuring that they have the necessary support and the information they need about the options available to them
• Psychotherapy for individual victims, in group settings, and for families
• Help addressing legal concerns and navigating the judicial system

Alleged Abusers Named in the OAG Report

The information below is based on the Maryland Attorney General's Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, released in April 2023. Our office has modified the names of some parishes and institutions for accuracy and consistency. Please note that the report contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and child sexual abuse that may be distressing to some readers.

• Suspected Abusers Named in the Attorney General's Report
• Summary: Maryland Attorney General's Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Alleged Abusers Named by Bishopaccountability.org

The information below is based on the Database of Accused published by the nonprofit bishopaccountability.org. The names of alleged abusers below are only those that were not included among the 156 clergy and Archdiocese personnel named in the Maryland Attorney General's 2023 report, although some are referenced in Appendix A of the report. Our office has modified the names of some parishes and institutions for accuracy and consistency.

As explained on Bishop Accountability's website:

"This database provides convenient access, for law enforcement and other interested persons, to the names of all U.S. Catholic clergy accused of sexually abusing children and/or possessing child abuse images, commonly referred to as child pornography. Links are provided to the publicly filed court documents and mainstream media articles that are the sources for this database, and a factual summary of the allegations is provided for each accused person."

• Bishop Accountability Database of Accused
• Suspected Abusers – By Name – Bishop Accountability Only

Alleged Abusers Named on the Archdiocese Website

The information below is based on the names published by the Archdiocese of Baltimore of priests and religious brothers who have been accused of child sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of Baltimore first published this list in 2002, and it was last updated in February 2023. The names below are only those that were not included among the 156 clergy and Archdiocese personnel named in the Maryland Attorney General's 2023 report or published on bishopaccountability.org, although some are referenced in Appendix A of the Attorney General's report. Our office has modified the names of some parishes and institutions for accuracy and consistency.

• The Archdiocese of Baltimore's full list of priests and brothers accused of abuse
• Alleged Abusers – By Name – Archdiocese Website

Alleged Abusers Organized by Institution

The Maryland Attorney General's Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore identified several parishes with multiple abusers. The parish of St. Mark in Catonsville had 11 abusers who lived and worked in the parish between 1964 and 2004. There were four parishes in which six abusers were identified (St. Michael-Overlea, in Baltimore; St. Clement, in Lansdowne; St. Mary, in Cumberland; and St. Patrick, in Cumberland). Three parishes were identified in which there were five abusers (St. Thomas More, in Baltimore; St. Clare, in Essex; and Our Lady of Victory, in Baltimore County).

Our team has performed an extensive review of the Attorney General's report, and we have compared it with information that was reported by the nonprofit organization bishopaccountability.org and information published on the website of the Archdiocese of Baltimore website. We have concluded that there are a large number of parishes and schools where multiple alleged abusers were assigned to live and/or work. There are also many instances of multiple abusers living and working at the same parishes or schools at the same time. Below is a list of institutions: schools, parishes, hospitals, and universities, that were included in either the Attorney General's report, on bishopaccountability.org, or published by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and noted as having had at least one alleged abuser assigned.

We have identified one institution with 13 alleged abusers: Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. St. Mark in Catonsville had 12 alleged abusers. 11 alleged abusers have lived or worked at Loyola University, formerly known as Loyola College, in Baltimore.

Three institutions had nine alleged abusers: St. Bernard in Baltimore, St. Mary in Cumberland, and St. Michael-Overlea in Baltimore. Four institutions had eight alleged abusers: Our Lady of Good Counsel in Baltimore, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Middle River, Our Shrine of the Little Flower in Baltimore, and St. Anthony of Padua in Baltimore. Five institutions had seven alleged abusers: Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore, Loyola Blakefield High School in Baltimore, St. Clare in Essex, and St. Patrick in Cumberland.

10 institutions had six alleged abusers: All Saints in Baltimore, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Towson, Most Precious Blood in Baltimore, St. Clement in Lansdowne, St. Dominic in Baltimore, St. Jerome in Baltimore, St. Joseph's Monastery in Baltimore, St. Matthew in Baltimore, St. Pius X in Towson, and St. Rita in Dundalk. Eight institutions had five alleged abusers: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Middle River, Our Lady of Victory in Baltimore, St. Augustine in Elkridge, St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Pasadena, St. Mary Star of the Sea in Baltimore, St. Mary's Industrial School in Baltimore, St. Patrick in Baltimore, and St. Rose of Lima in Baltimore.

A full list is arranged alphabetically below, with the name of each alleged abuser and the years they were assigned to the institution included:

• Alleged Abusers – By Institution, Combined
• Alleged Abusers in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – Organized by School

Contact Our Baltimore, Maryland Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers

At Silverman Thompson, we can provide compassionate representation for people who experienced sexual abuse as children by priests or other members of the clergy. We work to ensure that victims will be able to receive the justice they deserve. Contact our Baltimore clergy child sexual abuse attorneys at 410-385-2225 to discuss your case in a free, confidential consultation.