The diocese of Baltimore, Maryland, released Wednesday, April 24 the names of 23 priests accused after their deaths of child sexual abuse. These names come in addition to the 103 others that had already been communicated to the public by the diocese. All the allegations had been previously reported to the police, for the most part, more than 10 years previously.
In 2002, the diocese was one of the first in the country to make this gesture, revealing the identity of 57 members of the clergy who were the subject of serious accusations. More names have been made public as the allegations became known, mainly in 2018 after a report released by the Pennsylvania attorney general.
“Here in the Diocese of Baltimore there is absolute zero tolerance towards any bishop, priest, lay employee or volunteer credibly accused of child sexual abuse or adult sexual harassment.”Archbishop of Baltimore Bishop William Lori said in a press release accompanying the release of the names. “We are convinced that we have established rigorous standards in terms of accountability and transparency and that we will continue to apply them”, he added.
A contested idea that has proven to be prophetic.
When the first list was made public in September 2002 after the adoption by the American bishops of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth” and corresponding implementing standards, Baltimore was only the second diocese to take a such measure. Cardinal William Henry Keeler, then Archbishop of Baltimore, had been heavily criticized by local priests and other American bishops, who believed that such a list should not be made public.
“In retrospect, we saw that this was a prophetic gesture. The same priests who were critical 17 years ago now recognize the wisdom of these disclosures and certainly commend Cardinal Keeler for having the foresight to make them ”said Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore Bishop Adam J. Parker.
He added that the disclosure of additional names was not related to an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, but was the initiative of the diocese. “The investigation by the Attorney General is underway and we are cooperating in this investigation”, a this Mgr Parker. “But this is a measure of transparency that goes beyond this investigation. I would like to make it clear that we don’t have to do this post, except that we think it’s the right thing to do ”.
– .
