Ordained: 1943
Status: Accused
Died: 02/4/1992
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
Father Joseph Davies, a Monsignor, held various positions such as parish priest, prep school chaplain, prison chaplain, and Archdiocesan Director of Catholic Boy Scouts. He was also an active volunteer for Volunteers of America, where he worked at two children’s facilities. Father Joseph Davies passed away on February 3, 1992.
However, in 1993, the archdiocese received multiple allegations of child sexual abuse against Father Joseph Davies. Prior to this, in 1990, he resigned due to concerns over his use of funds at St. Joseph Parish. One man came forward with allegations of abuse that reportedly occurred in the 1960s at St. Joseph’s in Hagerstown. These allegations were not made public until August 13, 2015, when the Archdiocese released a statement acknowledging that a man had alleged abuse by Davies during the 1950s. The statement also acknowledged the existence of other allegations without providing further details.
Davies’ name appeared on the Archdiocese’s list on December 14, 2018, indicating that numerous allegations of child sex abuse had been received against him. More recently, the Maryland Attorney General’s report published on April 5, 2023, indicated that Davies sexually abused at least eight boys in the 1950s and 1960s, including incidents of rape.