Question 1

What is the Archdiocese of Baltimore Sexual Abuse Report?

Accepted Answer

the Maryland Attorney General’s Office released a 463 page Report on Child Sexual Abuse in The Archdiocese of Baltimore (PDF) this month, which contains horrendous details about the extensive history of child sexual abuse by Maryland Catholic Church clergy and employees of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Question 2

Did Maryland priests target young children for sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

Abusers often singled out children who displayed certain characteristics that would make them unlikely to report the abuse or assault.  Clergy presented themselves as protectors or friends to gain the children’s trust. Some of the most common characteristics found in targeting children included;  Shyness Lack of Confidence Children of homes with domestic abuse Learning disabilities Devoted Catholic church members Children lacking guidance

Question 3

Who did Maryland priests target for sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

Children often targeted were active participants in church proceedings, and those willing to devote their time volunteering on weekends or evenings. Many of these children were dropped off at the church by their parents, and left under the exclusive supervision of the priests or clergy members, including:  Altar Boys Choir Members Church Youth Organization Participants Boy Scout troop participants Rectory volunteers, especially those answering telephones in the evenings or on weekends

Question 4

How often does Maryland Church sex abuse occur?

Accepted Answer

The Maryland Attorney General report identifies Catholic clergy members, seminarians, deacons, members of a Catholic religious order or other employees of the Archdiocese who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse in Maryland.  According to the report, church abuse cases involved;  156 clergy members or church employees Over 600 victims of child sexual abuse

Question 5

Did Maryland Catholic Church cover up sex abuse reports?

Accepted Answer

In addition to allowing clergy abuse to continue unchecked, the Catholic Church actively concealed and covered up problems with sexual abuse in the Baltimore Archdiocese between the 1940s through 2002.  The Maryland AG report highlights how this was only possible through the actions of  leaders in the Catholic Church.

Question 6

Does the Catholic Church transfer priests accused of sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

According to documents, the Church would transfer offenders out of state to different schools or parishes after allegations were raised. In other cases, offenders were transferred just miles away into a different county of Maryland, where they continued to abuse children.

Question 7

Who is responsible for the Maryland Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal?

Accepted Answer

In the Catholic Church, the archbishop is responsible for the overall administration and governance of the diocese, including overseeing the pastoral care of the faithful, supervising the activities of the clergy, and ensuring that Church teachings and guidelines are followed.  In cases of child sexual abuse by priests or other clergy members, the archbishop has a responsibility to take appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims, as well as to follow civil and canonical procedures in investigating and addressing the allegations.

Question 8

Can I file a sexual abuse lawsuit over Maryland Catholic Church sexual abuse?

Accepted Answer

On April 11, 2023, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Child Victims Act of 2023, which now allows Catholic Church sexual abuse lawsuits to be pursued, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred  The new law goes into effect on October 1, 2023, removing the Maryland child sex abuse statute of limitations and increasing the amount of damages that can be pursued to hold the abusers and institutions that enabled the conduct accountable.

Question 9

Where did cases of Church sexual abuse occur in Maryland?

Accepted Answer

The wide-ranging sexual abuse in the Catholic Church found in association with the Archdiocese of Baltimore occurred in;  153 parishes and missions 59 schools 24 Catholic orders of men 26 Catholic orders of women St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore City Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg

Question 10

What parts of Maryland did Church sex abuse happen in?

Accepted Answer

That includes all perishes, Catholic school and church organizations in Baltimore City and the following nine counties in central and western Maryland;  Baltimore City Baltimore County Allegheny County Anne Arundel County Carroll County Frederick County Garrett County Harford County Howard County Washington County

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