NEWS RELEASE/STATEMENT
Contact: Christian Kendzierski
Christian.kendzierski@archbalt.org
410-547-5378
Archdiocese of Baltimore Investigating Allegation of Abuse from the 1970s Against Josephite Priest
(Baltimore, MD) – The Archdiocese of Baltimore received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor involving Fr. Philip Linden, S.S.J., a Josephite priest, while he was serving at St. Francis Xavier Church in East Baltimore in the 1970s. The allegation was reported to law enforcement and to Fr. Linden’s religious community, the St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites), and the Archdiocese has been conducting an investigation into the allegation against Fr. Linden since being given permission to do so by civil authorities.
Fr. Linden served at St. Francis Xavier Parish from 1969 to 1973 and resided near the parish during the 1970s. He also ministered at Stella Maris Hospice for several years into the 1980s. He left the Baltimore area in the 1980s and is no longer in active ministry. Fr. Linden has been added to the Archdiocese’s list of Priests and Brothers Accused of Child Sexual Abuse. This list was first published in 2002 and is updated as new information is received.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore is committed to protecting children and helping heal abuse victims. Support for counseling is available and offered to victims of child sexual abuse. We urge anyone with any knowledge of child sexual abuse to come forward and report it immediately to law enforcement. If clergy or other church personnel is suspected of committing the abuse, we ask that you also call the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection Victim’s Assistance Line at 1-866-417-7469. If you have any other information relevant to this matter, please contact the Archdiocese Office of Child and Youth Protection at 410-547-5348.