As 2022 comes to a close, Catholic Review Editor talks with Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori about a variety of topics, including the archbishop’s visit to Ukraine, the church’s project to look at the ministry and footprint of the church in Baltimore City and much more.
Child & Youth Protection
As Dallas charter turns 20, abuse has become issue for much of society
Twenty years later, at their assembly in Baltimore Nov. 14-17, the bishops acknowledged the charter’s anniversary and said that they have made steps in addressing clergy sexual abuse and would continue to listen, care for and walk with survivors.
Archdiocesan policies, procedures on sexual abuse evolved over the decades
An archdiocesan statement released said, “We are different – different than we were in the past – yet we must be transparent in acknowledging our past. To that end, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not oppose the public release of the attorney general’s report.”
Archbishop Lori, in Sun op-ed: Archdiocese changed handling of abuse allegations 3 decades ago
Archbishop William E. Lori apologized again to anyone who has been harmed by a representative of the church and said he “will offer this apology as long as it needs to be heard,” in a column published on the Baltimore Sun’s website Dec. 19 and in its print edition the following day.
Maryland Catholic Conference will support prospective elimination of statutes of limitations
The Maryland Catholic Conference issued a statement Dec. 19 indicating support for legislation that would prospectively eliminate statutes of limitation for civil litigation involving cases of child sexual abuse.
Cardinal Ouellet announces lawsuit against woman who claimed assault
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet announced he is filing a defamation lawsuit in Quebec against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
Baltimore Archdiocese does not oppose release of Maryland attorney general’s report
The Archdiocese of Baltimore reaffirmed its commitment to transparency regarding child sexual abuse by clergy and said that it would not oppose the public release of a report by Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh detailing abuse within the archdiocese over the last eight decades.
Irish archbishop criticizes ‘pathetic responses’ to clergy abuse
Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin has lashed out at the “pathetic responses” to victims of clergy sexual abuse and the “whitewashing” of crimes in the wake of the latest abuse scandal to rock the Irish Church.
Archbishop Lori says attorney general’s report is ‘stark reminder of sins’
Two days after Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh filed a motion in court to allow release of a report on sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop William E. Lori addressed the topic in his homily at the vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.
Archbishop Lori apologizes again; responds to Maryland attorney general’s motion on clergy sexual abuse
In a letter sent to the archdiocesan faithful Nov. 17, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori acknowledged information in the report would be a source of renewed pain for many, “most especially those harmed by representatives of the church.”
Commission starts planning global report on child protection efforts
With a renewed membership, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors met at the Vatican in late October and laid the groundwork for devising an annual report on child protection efforts by the Catholic Church globally.
Seminar panelists: Clergy abuse has scarred minority Catholic communities
The image of a white victim does not tell the complete story of clergy sexual abuse in the United States, according to a number of panelists during an Oct. 5 online forum titled “Neglected Voices in the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis.”