Child & Youth Protection

“And I get no pleasure from his death because I wish none of it had happened,” Elizabeth Ann Murphy said. “It still doesn’t restore my childhood.”

Archbishop William E. Lori confirmed that no one who has been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor is currently in ministry in the archdiocese, and that he has confidence that all clergy and employees are committed to protecting children and enforcing the archdiocese’s child protection policies.

Murphy said there is a “simple” answer as to how the church found itself enmeshed in the abuse crisis. “It’s because church leadership put power, prestige and possessions above the lives of the children entrusted to their care,” she said.

Archbishop Lori said that as he read the report, “just as a pastor of souls and as a Catholic, I felt deep sadness. I felt shame. I felt sickened by the report, and I had to ask myself how could this have happened in the life of the church and how could it have gone on so long?”

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said more than 300 people contacted the attorney general’s office since its investigation began five years ago, with his office interviewing hundreds of survivors and witnesses.