Father Robert Lentz is one of dozens of credibly accused clergy members who served the Archdiocese of Baltimore between the 1960s and today. Survivors who suffered sexual abuse by Father Lentz or other clergy members in and around Baltimore can now take legal action. You could have a case even if you previously heard you were out of time to sue those responsible for the abuse you endured.
If you have questions about reporting clergy sexual abuse and seeking justice, compensation, and accountability, you can speak with a clergy sexual abuse lawyer about your rights today. Lawyers representing survivors offer free, confidential consultations in these cases.
Who Was Father Robert Lentz?
There are many credible reports from survivors about the clergy sexual abuse they endured from Father Lentz. He served in multiple capacities throughout the greater Baltimore area for almost 40 years. His known assignments and work include:
- Associate Pastor, St. Mark’s, Catonsville, MD, 1964-1973
- Chaplain, Baltimore County Police and Related Agencies, 1966-1970
- Faculty & Residence, Cardinal Gibbons Faculty House, Baltimore, 1973-1974
- Catholic Youth Organization, Baltimore, 1973-1976
- Director, Archdiocese of Baltimore Youth Office, 1976-1978
- Associate Pastor, St. Augustine, Elkridge, MD, (part-time) 1978-1980
- Chaplain, Catholic Committee on Scouting, Boy Scouts of America, 1978-1984
- Sabbatical – Pastoral Studies, Notre Dame Institute, Notre Dame, IN, 1980
- Associate Pastor, Church of the Ascension, Halethorpe, MD, 1981
- Pastor, Prince of Peace, Edgewood, MD, 1983-1988
- Pastor St. Pius X, Baltimore, 1988-1990
- Temporary Administrator, St. Jerome, Baltimore, 1990
- Temporary Administrator, St. Matthew, Baltimore, 1990
- Associate Pastor, St. Mark, Fallston, MD, 1990-1991
- Associate Pastor, St. Clement, Lansdowne, MD, 1991
- Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Baltimore, 1991-1997
- Education Sabbatical at North American College, Rome, Italy, 1997
- Associate Pastor, St. Dominic, Baltimore, 1998-2002
The first known allegations against Father Lentz were in May 2002. A survivor reported sexual abuse that occurred around 1964 when he was an altar boy at St. Mark’s in Catonsville, MD. He was 10 or 11 years old when the abuse occurred.
A few months later, in October 2002, another survivor reported clergy sexual abuse perpetrated by Father Lentz at St. Mark’s. This survivor was 14 to 16 years old in 1967 and 1968 when the abuse occurred. He claimed Father Lentz gave him alcohol before abusing him. This happened in the priest’s living quarters at the rectory.
In December 2002, two more survivors came forward. This includes:
- A man who reported abuse that occurred in Father Lentz’s bedroom at the rectory in the mid-1960s, which also involved alcohol
- Another man who reported sexual abuse in the rectory living quarters also in the mid-1960s
In 2006, a survivor reported being an altar boy and attending school at St. Mark’s in the 1960s, where Father Lentz sexually abused him.
Most recently, in June 2017, a survivor reported clergy sexual abuse perpetrated by Father Lentz from 1984 to 1986 when he was serving as pastor at Prince of Peace in Edgewood, MD. The survivor was in second grade at the time.
In response to these reports, the Archdiocese made the mandated reports of the allegations to authorities and removed Father Lentz’s faculties in November 2002. He retired the following year and died in September 2007. The Archdiocese of Baltimore listed him as credibly accused of sexual abuse in 2019.
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Maryland Lawmakers Recently Adopted New Rules for Child Sex Abuse Cases
With the passage of The Child Victims Act of 2023, Maryland lawmakers allowed clergy abuse survivors to pursue civil cases against the perpetrators of their abuse and the institutions, organizations, and agencies where it occurred.
Under this law, Maryland did the following:
It Redefined Child Sexual Abuse
Per The Child Victims Act of 2023, the individuals, institutions, and agencies that allow, encourage, or fail to stop child sexual abuse are liable.
It Eliminated the Statute of Limitations for These Cases
There is no longer a deadline for survivors to sue liable parties in these cases.
It Made Retroactive Lawsuits Possible
Survivors can sue at any time, even if their time to do so previously expired under other versions of this law.
It Raised the Cap on Recoverable Damages
There is no cap on economic damages in cases against private institutions. The cap for non-economic damages in these cases increases to $1.5 million per case. The upper limit on recovery from a government entity increased to $890,000 per incident.
What Prompted Maryland to Change These Laws?
After four years of investigating Baltimore clergy abuse, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General released a report on child sex abuse allegations within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. After interviewing more than 300 survivors and other witnesses, the Office of the Attorney General identified 156 clergy members and over 600 child victims in incidents involving sexual abuse. Many survivors remain unknown, according to the report.
In this report, you can find more detailed information about Father Lentz and the accusations against him.
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What Damages Are Available in a Baltimore Clergy Sexual Abuse Case?
When a child sexual abuse survivor pursues a case as an adult, getting justice generally consists of holding the at-fault parties accountable, protecting the next generation from the same abuse, and recovering compensation for their expenses and losses.
Recoverable damages differ from case to case, but they can include:
- Past and present medical bills, such as for therapy and other counseling
- Past and present loss of income and diminished ability to work
- Past and present pain and suffering
A Baltimore clergy sexual abuse attorney can help you build your compensation case. This will include documenting your past, current, and future damages, corroborating your story using the timeline and your interactions with Father Lentz, and survivor videos when available.
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Discuss Your Baltimore Clergy Abuse Case With Our Team for Free
At Jenner Law, we provide free consultations for survivors of Maryland clergy abuse. Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation case assessment. We do not charge upfront fees to handle these cases. Our compassionate team understands how difficult it can be to speak out. Let us help.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form