Redacted Names Lead to Frustration with Baltimore Archdiocese
Posted on: May 11, 2023 Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Default Category
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released its long-awaited report into clergy sexual abuse of children within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in early April. The report details 80 years of clergy sexual abuse of more than 600 children within the archdiocese. It also describes the archdiocese’s knowledge concerning clergy abuse and its attempts to cover-up what was happening. However, there are a number of court-ordered redactions within the report, including the names of 10 “credibly accused” abusers. Maryland clergy sexual abuse survivors are now calling on the archdiocese to release the redacted names of the credibly accused abusers.
Current Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown believes the Archdiocese of Baltimore should publish the redacted names. In a statement, he said:
The Archdiocese can, at any time, publish those 10 names on their website as individuals who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse, yet they have not done so, despite having the full and completed report since November, as well as information about those 10 individuals for many years. They are uniquely positioned to legally release those names to the public at any moment as part of their credibly accused list, should they choose to do so.
Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) are also frustrated that the archdiocese has chosen not to release the names of the credibly accused clergy. Their argument is that the archdiocese has an opportunity to be fully transparent and accountable to its parishioners and especially to survivors. However, by not releasing these names, the church is continuing its behavior of protecting itself instead of its faithful members.
Hopefully, the Child Victims Act of 2023 will soon become law in Maryland and allow clergy sex abuse survivors to exact some sort of justice from the archdiocese. Unfortunately, it appears that the church is still not willing to be forthright in regards to clergy sex abuse claims. It just might take the filings of hundreds of clergy sex abuse lawsuits to get the church to change its ways.
The entire article can be viewed here.
Sexual Abuse Lawyer for Maryland Clergy Abuse Victims
If you or a loved one were a victim of sexual abuse within the Maryland Dioceses, contact our firm today. Our law firm handles Maryland sexual abuse lawsuits and can help you understand how long you have to file a clergy abuse claim in the state of Maryland. Call us now at 1-800-941-7209 for a FREE and PRIVATE consultation.