Ordained: 1941
Died: 05/09/1993
Diocese: Archdiocese of Baltimore MD
In 2019, the Office of the Attorney General received a report from a woman who claimed that Monsignor William McCrory sexually abused her when she was between 7 to 9 years old. At the time, McCrory was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi in Brunswick, Maryland, and also had some responsibility at St. Mary’s Church in Petersville. According to the victim, Msgr. William McCrory used to have dinner with her family frequently and was very attentive to her. He would make her sit on his lap and then sexually abuse her by placing his hand in her underwear and digitally penetrating her. The victim also recalled an incident where McCrory was hurting her while she was on his lap in the backyard, and he forcefully kept her there.
The abuse stopped after the victim began avoiding the priest, but she believes that McCrory bribed her to keep quiet. He allowed her to drive his car and gave her little gifts, such as a shoebox full of little bottles of liquor. McCrory was eventually transferred to Havre de Grace, retired in 1991, and passed away in 1993. The victim is not aware of any other victims of McCrory and has not decided whether to report to the Archdiocese. To date, the Archdiocese has not listed McCrory as credibly accused.