Order: OFM Cap
Status: Accused
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
Starting from 1993, a woman made allegations that Father James Avant had sexually abused her son and other boys during the early 1970s while he was stationed at St. Martin’s rectory. At the time, her son was an 8th-grader. These allegations were reported to the Capuchins.
It is worth noting that Father James Avant had left the order in 1990 and had been assigned to Morgan State University, St. Martin (Baltimore) from 1972 to 1978, and Charles Lwanga Center from 1979 to 1984.
In 1995, Father James Avant requested dispensation from religious life. Later, in 2002, he was included on the Baltimore archdiocese’s list of accused religious priests and brothers. Most recently, as of 4/5/2023, he was also included in the MD Attorney General’s report.