Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused
Died: 08/20/1993
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
In 1988, following a victim’s disclosure, Father Thomas Smith confessed to the Archdiocese that he had sexually abused multiple boys during the 1960s. Shockingly, the Archdiocese chose not to report these crimes and allowed Thomas Smith to continue his duties. In 1993, another victim came forward, and later, Smith died by suicide. It was only after his death that parishioners discovered, to their utter astonishment, that the Archdiocese had been aware of Smith’s prior sexual abuse of children and had kept it concealed.
Subsequently, numerous additional victims courageously spoke out, expressing their anger towards the Archdiocese for their cover-up of Thomas Smith’s abuse. Presently, approximately 40 victims are known to have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Smith when they were young boys. The range of abuse varied from inappropriate touching to oral and anal rape. The victims were between the ages of approximately 6 to 16 years old.
Smith carried out these heinous acts at each of his assignments in Maryland, which included St. Jane Frances De Chantal, St. Michael in Overlea, Most Precious Blood, and St. Stephen’s in Bradshaw. The abuse occurred both on and off parish premises. Smith would frequently take groups of boys, often 7th or 8th graders, on trips to locations such as Porter’s Beach in Rocky Point Park, Ocean City, Maryland, and elsewhere. During these outings, he developed a pattern of molesting boys while they were swimming, as well as in the shared bedrooms and his assigned room in the rectory. Smith’s documented abuse spanned from the early 1950s until at least the late 1980s.