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The Archdiocese of Baltimore recently published a comprehensive, damning list of clergy members accused of child sexual abuse. The list, which was released on the Archdiocese’s website, includes more than 150 names of individuals who were accused of abuse between 1939 and 2021. With over 600 recorded victims, the majority of the accusations took place between the 1960s and 1980s.
One deacon admitted to molesting over 100 children. Another priest was allowed to feign hepatitis treatment and make other excuses to avoid facing abuse allegations.<\/p>\n
The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s list is an effort to be transparent and address the Catholic Church’s ongoing sex abuse scandal. The list is organized into four categories: 1) those who have been found guilty in a canonical or civil trial, 2) those who have been named in a lawsuit that has been settled, 3) those who have been accused in a lawsuit that is still pending, and 4) those who have been accused but are deceased or have left the ministry.<\/p>\n
The report accompanying the list details the allegations, dates of the abuse, and actions taken by the Archdiocese in response to the claims. To safeguard confidential grand jury materials, the report was redacted, resulting in the removal of identities of certain accused clergy.<\/p>\n
The Baltimore report says church leaders were focused on keeping abuse hidden, not on protecting victims or stopping abuse. In some situations, victims reported abuse to priests who were abusive themselves. And when law enforcement did become aware of abuse allegations, police and prosecutors were often deferential and \u201cuninterested in probing what church leaders knew and when,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n
The release of the list has received mixed reactions. While some appreciate the Archdiocese’s transparency, others argue that the list is incomplete and lacks information on how the Church dealt with the accused. Victims’ advocates believe that the list is a step in the right direction, but they also emphasize the need for more comprehensive investigations and greater accountability within the Church.<\/p>\n
Victims said the report was a long-overdue public reckoning with shameful accusations the church has been facing for decades.
Jean Hargadon Wehner said she was abused in Baltimore as a teen by A. Joseph Maskell, a priest who served as her Catholic high school counselor and chaplain. She said she reported her abuse to church officials in the early \u201990s when her memories of the trauma finally surfaced about two decades after she was repeatedly raped.<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cI expected them to do the right thing in 1992,\u201d she told reporters Wednesday. \u201cI\u2019m still angry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Baltimore Archbishop William Lori, in a statement posted online, apologized to the victims and said the report \u201cdetails a reprehensible time in the history of this Archdiocese, a time that will not be covered up, ignored or forgotten.\u201d Since the 1980s, the Baltimore Archdiocese has provided more than $13.2 million in care and compensation to 301 abuse victims, including $6.8 million for 105 voluntary settlements.<\/p>\n
Lori said the report was “an important step in our ongoing efforts to be transparent and accountable,” and he acknowledged the “deep pain and suffering” of the victims. The report is intended to encourage other victims to come forward and seek help. However, critics claim that the list is an attempt to control the narrative and maintain the Church’s image.<\/p>\n
The release of the Baltimore Archdiocese’s list follows similar efforts by other dioceses in the United States. In recent years, many dioceses have published lists of accused clergy members as part of a broader effort to address the issue of sexual abuse within the Church. Despite these efforts, some victims’ advocates argue that the Church has not done enough to hold abusive clergy accountable and prevent future abuse.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s decision to publish a list of clergy accused of child sexual abuse is an important step toward transparency and accountability. The report accompanying the list provides details on the allegations and actions taken by the Archdiocese in response. However, victims’ advocates argue that more comprehensive investigations and greater accountability within the Church are still needed to prevent future abuse and support survivors.<\/p>\n
Read the full article at PBS News<\/a><\/p>\n
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\u201cThe FBI has rarely become involved in the clergy sex abuse scandals. They\u2019ve dragged their feet around the country with respect to the Catholic Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Archdiocese of Baltimore recently published a comprehensive, damning list of clergy members accused of child sexual abuse. The list, which was released on the Archdiocese’s website, includes more than 150 names of individuals who were accused of abuse between 1939 and 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
The U.S. Virgin Islands is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Each year hundreds of cruise ships come in and out of its harbors, and tourists enjoy a plethora of activities under the Caribbean sun. One of the most frequently visited islands is the island of St. Thomas. Just to the southeast of the popular paradise lies the small island of Little St. James. Though little<\/em> is heralded in its name, the island is home to some big<\/em> problems.<\/p>\n
In 1998, the 75-acre island of Little St. James was purchased for $7.95 million by an incredibly wealthy businessman by the name of Jeffrey Epstein. The island has a villa-style compound, library, cinema, boathouse, and several cabanas. It also has a large mansion and a unique structure that resembles a temple. Epstein was not only in the process of building new<\/em> structures on the island; he was also the reason Little St. James was given a new<\/em> name: Pedophile Island.<\/p>\n
In 2008, Epstein plead guilty to a charge of prostitution in the state of Florida. He completed a 13-month jail sentence for the crime. In 2010, he registered as a sex offender in the Virgin Islands. However, registering as a sex offender did not keep Epstein from engaging in heinous criminal activity. For several years, Epstein used the island of Little St. James as a \u201chideaway\u201d to rape and traffic dozens of women and girls. Some girls appeared to be as young as 11 or 12 years old. In 2016, Epstein purchased the Great St. James, an island nearby Little St. James, to prevent people from monitoring his activities on Little St. James and to prevent his survivors from escaping.<\/p>\n
In 2018, Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges stemming from the trafficking of women and girls in New York and Florida between 2002 to 2005. He plead not guilty to the charges. In August 2019, he hung himself in a Manhattan jail while the charges were pending.<\/p>\n
In January 2020, the U.S. Virgin Islands sued Epstein\u2019s estate for the rape and trafficking of women and girls that occurred on Little St. James. The Complaint alleged that Epstein\u2019s misconduct spanned from 2001 to 2018. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and assets from Epstein\u2019s $577.7 million estate, including the forfeiture of Little St. James and Great St. James.<\/p>\n
The Virgin Island\u2019s lawsuit, however, has complicated matters for some of Epstein\u2019s survivors who are seeking civil remedies. Epstein\u2019s estate has set up a fund to compensate survivors, but when the Virgin Islands\u2019 lawsuit was commenced, it froze the estate\u2019s assets. Thus, the litigation has caused delays in allowing the fund to move forward. While the estate believes a plan for putting the fund into effect should occur by June 15, many survivors are skeptical. The Virgin Islands have yet to confirm resolution of any matters that have been in dispute.<\/p>\n
Because of Epstein\u2019s suicide, his survivors missed the opportunity to see him brought to justice for criminal charges. They should not miss that opportunity for civil recourse. The qualified attorneys at Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, and Overholtz represent survivors of sexual abuse. Please contact us to receive more information.<\/p>\n
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Sources:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/jeffrey-epstein-orgy-island-tourist-attraction-photos-2019-8#jeffrey-epstein-purchased-little-st-james-a-roughly-75-acre-private-island-in-the-virgin-islands-in-1998-for-795-million-2<\/a><\/p>\n