Ordained: 1936
Status: Accused
Died: 08/19/1961
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
Father Joseph Hopkins was listed publicly as accused by the Baltimore archdiocese on 4/24/2019. He was assigned to St. Ambrose Church from 1936-1943 and St. Cecilia’s from 1943-1949. He was transferred to Wheeling, WV, in 1949, during the tenure of Francis P. Keough as Archbishop of Baltimore (1947-1961) and John J. Swint as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston (1922-1962). Later, he was incardinated into the Wheeling-Charleston diocese and worked at St. Peter’s in Wheeling and St. Xavier in Moundsville. He died on 8/19/1961, while on leave.
In 1995, an allegation of abuse in 1948 was made against him. The 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report revealed that the allegation was of abuse of an 8th grade boy over several months in 1948 at St. Cecilia’s. Father Joseph Hopkins’ file indicates that he was sent away in 1949 due to “some bad action….with legal ramifications.” In 1950, Baltimore Chancellor John Duggan advised Hopkins to keep his whereabouts secret because his case was “still active in the courts,” and it would be “very detrimental” if authorities found out where he was. Hopkins was also included in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report.