As followers of Christ, we can only see the Maryland Attorney General’s report, Clergy Abuse in Maryland: Report on the Investigation of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, as a heartbreaking and new reminder of a tragic and shameful time. The report details cases of child sexual abuse committed by representatives of the Church, occurring for the most part from the 1940s to the early 1990s, as well as the way the Archdiocese responded to reports of abuse.
Few of us, including me, can begin to understand the depth of pain endured by the victims of child abuse. On my first day as Archbishop of Baltimore in 2012, I met with victim-survivors to hear directly from them, just as I did in previous assignments and as I have continued to do on numerous occasions in my decade here in Baltimore. Their personal accounts of the lasting spiritual, psychological and emotional harm have driven my efforts, and those of my colleagues, to build on the profound culture change in the Archdiocese over the last generation. Our efforts are centered on ensuring transparency and accountability—and remaining ever-vigilant in the ongoing work of protecting children and young people, and promoting healing among victim-survivors.
Words alone will never make up for the harm inflicted on those entrusted to the Church’s care. Acknowledging that reality, I offer this pastoral letter, first to express, as best I can, the sorrow of the Church for our failures; second, to see these tragic failures and the suffering they produced through the lens of Jesus’ redeeming love; and third, to communicate clearly the actions taken by the Church over the past several decades to root out the evil of child sexual abuse and to accompany victim-survivors. I pray that these reflections will be of some help to any of you who have suffered the evil of sexual abuse, and indeed to all of you, the members of the faithful, as you grapple with the impact of this scandal on your lives of faith and the ways it hinders the Church’s mission of faith, worship and service.
My letter to you about this painful subject can only begin with a heartfelt apology. I offer this as my imperfect attempt. To the victim-survivors, their families and all the faithful of the Archdiocese: I see the pain and destruction that was perpetrated by representatives of the Church and perpetuated by the failures that allowed this evil to fester, and I am deeply sorry.
Moral evil exists anytime one person takes advantage of another. This could include exploiting an immigrant, denying the safety and dignity of the elderly, or using a position of power to control a subordinate. But the sexual abuse of a child by an adult is among the worst moral evils.
The evil of abuse was compounded by the fact that it was committed by those ordained as heralds of the Gospel and ministers of the Sacraments. The exercise of priestly ministry involves a sacred trust intended to represent the holiness of Christ and the goodness of Christ and the love Christ has for His Church and for each person. Using deception and manipulation, these evildoers exploited that sacred trust. Their heinous acts of sexual abuse inflicted untold harm on trusting and vulnerable children. It shattered their innocence and, in far too many instances, ruined their lives.
The behavior of these abusers therefore represents the polar opposite of what any representative of the Church should be. Whenever word of this depravity reaches the consciousness of the faithful, it causes scandal and rightfully elicits anger, repulsion and anguish.
In writing to you, I seek to reflect what victim-survivors have told me, not just since my arrival in Baltimore but over four decades of ministry as a priest and bishop.
By mustering the courage to vocalize their experiences, victim-survivors have helped me understand how the wounds of sexual abuse remain present in their lives, often dominating their thoughts. For some, the wickedness they experienced diminishes their capacity for friendship and intimacy. For others, it has undermined their ability to function day to day, to hold down a job, and to have productive and meaningful work. Still other victim-survivors have been consumed by anger as they grapple with the consequences of the abuse they endured.
For many victim-survivors, the sexual abuse they suffered not only damaged and even severed their relationship with the Church, but it also damaged and even severed their relationship with God. Listening to their experiences, I could only regard such wickedness by representatives of the Church as the gravest of betrayals.
As the report details, this widespread evil tragically operated in the Church for over 50 years, spanning from the attack on Pearl Harbor through the launch of the World Wide Web. Contrary to what some have asserted publically, my predecessors did not want children to be abused but, their response to abuse was woefully inadequate. We know that during this era what was deemed shameful was often buried and the common response to scandal was to keep it quiet at all costs. This was true in families, in society, and, sadly, in the Church. We also know that there was a woefully inadequate understanding of both the lasting harm of sexual abuse and the rate of recurrence of these crimes.
Today, both as a Church and as a society, we have a greater understanding than in the past of the horrible impact of child sexual abuse. This, of course, does not lessen the gravity of these past sins. Tragically, the abuse of minors not only impacted members of the Church, but it is indeed a societal problem that has inflicted harm upon many individuals worldwide. To repeat, this crime is all the more tragic when present within the Church.
Pope Francis confronted this evil in 2019 at the conclusion of the Vatican summit on child sexual abuse in the Church. He said:
“We are thus facing a universal problem, tragically present almost everywhere and affecting everyone. Yet we need to be clear, that while gravely affecting our societies as a whole, this evil is in no way less monstrous when it takes place within the Church.
“The brutality of this worldwide phenomenon becomes all the more grave and scandalous in the Church, for it is utterly incompatible with her moral authority and ethical credibility. Consecrated persons, chosen by God to guide souls to salvation, let themselves be dominated by their human frailty or sickness and thus become tools of Satan. In abuse, we see the hand of the evil that does not spare even the innocence of children.
“No explanations suffice for these abuses involving children. We need to recognize with humility and courage that we stand face to face with the mystery of evil, which strikes most violently against the most vulnerable, for they are an image of Jesus. For this reason, the Church has now become increasingly aware of the need not only to curb the gravest cases of abuse by disciplinary measures and civil and canonical processes, but also to decisively confront the phenomenon both inside and outside the Church. She feels called to combat this evil that strikes at the very heart of her mission, which is to preach the Gospel to the little ones and to protect them from ravenous wolves.
“Here again I would state clearly: if in the Church there should emerge even a single case of abuse — which already in itself represents an atrocity — that case will be faced with the utmost seriousness. Brothers and Sisters: in people’s justified anger, the Church sees the reflection of the wrath of God, betrayed and insulted by these deceitful consecrated persons. The echo of the silent cry of the little ones who, instead of finding in them fathers and spiritual guides encountered tormentors, will shake hearts dulled by hypocrisy and by power. It is our duty to pay close heed to this silent, choked cry.”
Even while recognizing that the Church is made up of people who, like everyone, struggle with sin, human weakness, fallibility— and will until the end of history— the sin of child sexual abuse can have no place whatsoever among those called to minister in the Body of Christ. Stewards of the Church, such as myself and my co-workers, must work tirelessly to ensure this. The sin of abuse is diametrically opposed to the will of God and must be utterly rejected by those who aspire to follow Christ and serve the members of His Body.
For the ways the Church did not root out those who would harm children and properly address the grievous harm committed, and above all, for the suffering of each person who has been abused, I offer my deepest apology.
St. Paul tells the Church, “…[Y]ou are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”[1 Cor 12:27] In Baptism we become members of the Church and a part of the Body of Christ. Thereafter, there is a bond that unites us. What happens to one of us, impacts all of us. Just as the merits of one member build up the whole of the body, so too the sins of one member of the body affect the whole of the body.
Perhaps no greater example of this reality exists than the terrible impact of the sin of child sexual abuse on the whole of the Body of Christ. This sin, like few others, inflicts a deep wound upon the victim. This sin destroys trust, robs innocence and can inflict lifelong harm. So too does this sin wound the whole of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Often those who were abused are left to face a lifetime of challenges because of what they endured. But many of those who were harmed are not merely victims but truly survivors. With God’s grace and through their tremendous strength, they have been able to find a path to life, a path beyond the evil that was inflicted upon them, a path that can lead to healing. Time and time again, victim-survivors have spoken to me personally about their journey of healing. Some have spoken publicly about this journey. I am deeply grateful for their courageous witness.
Many have found healing through counseling. Others found healing through pastoral outreach and the life of the Sacraments. For some, healing came from remaining in the Church and for others it came in finding their way back to the Church. Many have spoken of the importance of the apology they received and the acknowledgement of what they suffered. Some expressed this feeling, saying: “At last someone listened.” Or they expressed it even more simply, “I was believed.” I have met with others who have found it impossible to forgive and to heal. Even still – however unthinkable it may be to many of us – some victim-survivors have told me they found the strength to forgive those who abused them. Some said forgiveness was not a kindness extended to their abuser but an action they needed to take for themselves to move forward. I pray that many more victim-survivors will be able to find a path to healing and peace.
Just as sin wounds the whole of the body, so too the acts of genuine love carried out by members of the body help to heal the whole of the Body of Christ. All around us, within the Church and outside of it, we see the wounds of sin and division. The scandal of child sexual abuse is perhaps the greatest lingering wound in our Church today. Many of the Archdiocesan conversations in the Synod process reflected this reality. In Bishop Robert Barron’s Letter to a Suffering Church, he called the abuse of children, “Satan’s masterpiece.” Far from taking the blame off of perpetrators and putting it on the work of the devil, this characterization shows the sheer evil of abuse and the way this horrific sin so deeply wounds the faith of the people and leads them away from the Lord.
In Baptism we are anointed to share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and kingly mission. The priestly calling of all the Baptized is fulfilled by offering daily sacrifices in union with the sacrifice of Christ that atone for our sins and, indeed, for the sins of all the world. Among the Baptized, those called to share in the ministerial priesthood have a particular vocation to offer the sacrifice of the Mass and thus are to “imitate what they celebrate,” namely the self-offering love of Jesus upon the cross, made present in the Eucharist.
Those priests who abused children did the very opposite of what it was they were ordained to do. At the same time, we must never forget that the vast majority of priests faithfully live out their vocation in lives of devoted service. Parishioners regularly comment on how much they love and respect their priest. To those priests who have selflessly and faithfully fulfilled their calling, and are rightfully worthy of our trust, I offer my heartfelt gratitude, support and encouragement.
Priests are also horrified by the crimes committed by abusers in their ranks. These men who have given their lives in service to God and their sisters and brothers often live under a cloud of suspicion. Even so, many recognize and accept this and take upon themselves the harm caused by those who tragically betrayed their vocation and stole trust related to it.
I was particularly struck by the witness of one priest who felt the call to atone in his own life for the sins of those priests who abused children. In 2018, upon discovering that he had an inoperable brain tumor, Father John Holowell, a young priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, decided to offer his suffering for the healing of victims of child sexual abuse. Father Holowell, like so many priests, never harmed a child in his care. He is a good priest. Yet he felt called to offer his suffering for the healing of the wounds inflicted by abusive priests. His is one example of what we, as priests and bishops, can do to heal the wounds in the Body of Christ caused by fellow priests and bishops.
Through prayer, penance and works of mercy, offered in love, we can all share in the healing and redemptive work of Christ. Offering himself upon the cross, Jesus made the one all-sufficient sacrifice that heals the wounds inflicted by sin, that atones for the evil committed by people of every generation. As St. Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church.” [Col 1:24] Through our Baptism we have been given the ability to offer our own sufferings to share in Christ’s work of redemption and of healing.
The wound in the Body of Christ is deep indeed. So too is the need for all of us, most especially bishops and priests, to share in the work of healing this wound. Through prayer and penance we, in the grace of the Spirit, can share in this work of healing and reconciliation. I pledge to continue to do this in my own life, and I urge my brother priests to do the same and invite the faithful who feel so called to join us. Together let us seek to restore the health of the Body of Christ so marred by this terrible wound. Above all else, though, we must do this out of love for our brothers and sisters who are victim-survivors. We must never stop praying for their healing and peace.
Apology is only a beginning. Healing requires action. As Pope Francis said in a 2023 message released worldwide: Victim-survivors must not only be asked for their forgiveness, the Church must also provide “concrete actions to repair the horrors they have suffered and to prevent them from happening again.”
And so, this letter would mean little if I did not renew the Church’s vigorous commitment to eliminate any vestige of sexual abuse and enumerate actions the Archdiocese of Baltimore has taken over the last 30-plus years to effectively address the ugly specter of the sexual abuse of minors in the Church. We’ve taken these actions in consultation with victim-survivors.
Our efforts represent an ongoing evolution leading to the creation of a culture where sexual abuse is not tolerated.
The core elements of this transformative change include:
I offer the following as evidence of the Archdiocese’s pledge. We continue to work as hard as we can to protect children while offering a series of concrete steps to rectify past failings.
Let’s start with the response victim-survivors now receive in today’s Church. The Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection, led by lay professionals, extends an offer to provide victim-survivors counseling and pastoral services. They can select a therapist they trust and continue treatment for as long as it helpful. My auxiliary bishops and I offer to meet with any victim-survivor who is open to it. We seek to ensure that the strength they show in speaking up is met with compassion, and the courage they display in coming forward is acknowledged and validated.
The Office of Child and Youth Protection also coordinates a financial mediation program, if victim-survivors would prefer monetary compensation instead of coverage for their professional therapeutic care. Since the 1980s, the Archdiocese has invested more than $13.2 million into the care and monetary compensation for 301 victim-survivors. This includes $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements under a mediation program led by a retired non-Catholic judge.
Regardless of how long ago abuse occurred, our offer to pay for counseling is available to all victim-survivors. Also, since 2007, the Archdiocese’s financial mediation program has been available for victim-survivors, regardless of legal liability, including for those whose legal claims are barred by the statute of limitations.
It is heart wrenching and distressing for me that at times the Church’s response to victim-survivors has undermined the healing they deserve.
The Church began transforming its response in the 1980s, and over a generation, this transformation has evolved and grown ever-stronger. We are committed to work toward improvements that make our responses more compassionate and our measures to protect children and young people even more effective. The Holy Father also notes that the Church must be a model that shines light on the need to protect children in families, every institution – and in all places throughout society.
The following is a timeline of some significant events representing the progression of changes we’ve made over the past 35-plus years.
The Archdiocese establishes its first Independent Child Abuse Review Board to review reports of child sexual abuse by Church personnel.
The Archdiocese issues written child protection policies. Requirements include mandatory reporting of child abuse, cooperation with law enforcement authorities, trainings for clergy and other Church personnel, required reference & background checks, and procedures for pastoral response.
The Archdiocese permanently and publicly removes Joseph Maskell from ministry following credible allegations of child sexual abuse against him and The Baltimore Sun reports that Maskell is interviewed by the police.
The Archdiocese creates the Office of Child and Youth Protection.
The first annual independent audit of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s youth protection efforts is conducted by an outside firm and it confirmed that local policies and practices were in full compliance with national standards.
The Archdiocese begins offering mediated financial settlements to victim-survivors through a voluntary, pastoral program, leading to 105 victim-survivors reaching voluntary settlements for a total of $6.8 million.
The Archdiocese invests in a new training program, VIRTUS Online.
The bishops of the Archdiocese host listening sessions following the release of the grand jury report on abuse in Pennsylvania.
All employees and clergy of the Archdiocese are now required to complete child protection refresher training on an annual basis.
Voice of the Faithful, an independent lay organization of Catholics, ranks the Archdiocese of Baltimore third (out of 177 dioceses) in its annual report measuring abuse prevention and safe environment programs in the United States.
If someone associated with the Church – including clergy, employees or volunteers of the Archdiocese of Baltimore – is suspected of abuse, report your concerns to law enforcement as well as the Office of Child and Youth Protection by calling 410-547-5348 or the victim assistance line at 886-417-7469.
In this letter I have tried to share with you what is in my mind and heart at this moment in the life of our local Church here in Baltimore. I offer these reflections as the shepherd of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The reality of abuse is not something I view dispassionately. The conversations I have had with victim-survivors and the many challenges I have faced in implementing policies and practices to combat sexual abuse have made this very real to me. The scourge of clergy sexual abuse has been very much a part of my life and ministry for decades. Not a day goes by when I do not think about those who were abused, the grievous harm they experienced, and the failure of the Church’s response in the past.
What I have written, however imperfect, comes from my heart. I ask you to understand that I am not simply sharing information, policies and practices but attempting to share something of who I am and what I have tried to do.
Whatever else we may do as a Church, I can never say that the work is done, or that it has always been done adequately. Anyone who has dealt directly with sexual abuse knows we can learn more, we can understand more – always. They know that the work of listening to and accompanying those who have been harmed is never over. I promise you this: The work will not cease.
This is something I cannot do alone, and I never have. It is something that I do with many good co-workers alongside highly qualified volunteers who give of their time to make the Church as safe as we can.
Many in the leadership of the Church who worked to address the issue and make the changes that needed to happen did so imperfectly, to be sure. Despite our shortcomings, we do know the steps we have taken have been effective. The abuse discussed in the Attorney General’s report has been long-acknowledged by the Archdiocese itself.
Lastly, but most importantly, I want to express my gratitude to the victim-survivors who have come forward. Your courage has led to change. That change has made the Church a safer place for young people, and it has become a place where those who have been abused are acknowledged and cared for.
No matter the cultural change and protective policies in place today, we can never undo the fact that far too many were harmed, nor can we lessen the heinousness of what has happened. What we can do is turn to the Lord trusting that His love is stronger than pain and death. We can continue working together to make the Church the safest environment we can. We can continue to accompany victim-survivors in their journey of healing and peace.
I hope that anyone who reads this letter will find it helpful in their own journey of faith as you grapple with the tragedy of child sexual abuse in the Church. But most of all, I hope that this letter can contribute in some small way toward healing those who have been harmed and, likewise, toward healing the wounds in the Body of Christ.
Please pray for the victim-survivors and for the Church, and know of my prayers for you.
Most Rev. William E. Lori, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Baltimore
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