The Archdiocese of Baltimore June 30 updated its website listing of individuals accused of child sexual abuse.
The updates, including the addition of names, were made following a recommendation Archbishop William E. Lori made June 28 to the archdiocese’s Independent Review Board. The board – an interfaith group that includes experts from law enforcement, health care, academia, social work, and the legal community – endorsed the archbishop’s recommendation as an important step to further the local church’s commitment to transparency and healing.
The updates come in the wake of a report released by the Maryland attorney general in April on “Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.” At that time, the attorney general’s office released a version of the report with certain redactions ordered by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
The archdiocese’s list, first published in 2002 and expanded when relevant information is learned, lists priests and brothers accused of child sexual abuse and encourages other victim-survivors to come forward. The list also fulfills the archdiocese’s commitment to openness and sharing of information in relation to its zero-tolerance of abuse, archdiocesan leaders said.
Paragraphs relating to 39 individuals who appear in the Attorney General’s report and were not already included on the Archdiocese’s list, which has different criteria than that used by the Attorney General, are being listed along with the Archdiocese’s List of Priests and Brothers Accused of Child Sexual Abuse. The Archdiocese is also adding paragraphs to its List relating to three additional clergy who meet its criteria for inclusion.The three additional clergy are:
• Phillip Linden, a Josephite whose ministry included service at St. Francis Xavier (East Baltimore) 1969-1970.
• Michael Miller, a Conventual Franciscan priest who worked at Archbishop Curley High School 1994-1995 and 2003-2006.
• Joseph O’Meara, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who is retired and whose faculties have previously been removed
The Archdiocese of Baltimore is believed to be the only organization in the region to publish such an online database.
None of the 39 individuals has served in Catholic ministry in the Archdiocese for many years. At least 33 of the 39 are deceased. The overwhelming majority of the 39 individuals were not previously included in the list for one of three reasons:
• The alleged perpetrator is neither a priest nor a religious brother. The archdiocese’s list has not included lay people, religious sisters or deacons.
• The alleged perpetrator never had an assignment in ministry in the archdiocese.
Eight of the 39 listed also will appear in the Archdiocesan List of Priests and Brothers Accused of Child Sexual Abuse as now meeting the criteria for inclusion in the archdiocese’s list.
Anyone with knowledge of child sexual abuse is urged to immediately contact law enforcement. If clergy or other church personnel is suspected of committing the abuse, please also call the archdiocesan Victim’s Assistance Line at 1-866-417-7469. The archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection can also be at 410-547-5348.
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