Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore Abuse News

What Is Happening in the Archdiocese of Baltimore?

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has completed and released a detailed report of allegations of abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, committed by priests, teachers, and other Archdiocese employees. The Archdiocese of Baltimore includes approximately 153 parishes, 40 elementary schools, and 18 high schools.

The public outcry over these abuses by clergy and other Church staff members has prompted many survivors to come forward. Those who suffered in silence for years have begun to realize they are not alone. In recent years, hundreds—and likely more—have come forward with reports of sexual abuse involving Catholic Church personnel in Maryland. Many more survivors are expected to come forward following the passage of the Maryland Child Victims Act (CVA), which took effect on October 1, 2023.

The CVA eliminates the statute of limitations for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse, allowing survivors to bring claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. However, the Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy on September 29, 2023, just days before the Act took effect. As a result, survivors seeking compensation from the Archdiocese must pursue their claims through the bankruptcy process—including mediation and a court-approved compensation trust—rather than through the traditional civil jury system. (Note that the automatic stay may not apply uniformly to all affiliated entities, such as individual parishes, depending on the circumstances.)

In the wake of the bankruptcy filing, hundreds of survivors have filed claims in the proceeding, and mediation efforts have been ongoing for many months. Those negotiations have focused largely on the extent of insurance coverage available to compensate survivors and on the Archdiocese’s own financial contribution. While the Archdiocese has proposed a plan that includes a monetary contribution along with insurance proceeds, survivors and their advocates have argued that the proposed funding falls far short of what is necessary to fairly compensate those who were harmed.

More recently, there have been signs of progress. One insurer has agreed to a significant settlement, marking an important step toward building a compensation fund for survivors. Additional negotiations with other insurers are continuing, and the case appears to be moving closer to a resolution. Even so, key issues remain unresolved, including the total value of the settlement and how funds will ultimately be distributed among survivors. For many, the process remains difficult, but it has also created a path—however imperfect—for accountability and recovery.