Priest Removed From Duties In New Baltimore Sexual Abuse Complaint

BALTIMORE, MD — Less than a month after state officials released a substantially unredacted version of a grand jury report detailing allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, a priest has been suspended from his duties after a 2018 report of sexual harassment came to light.

The archdiocese on Sunday informed parishioners that Benedictine Father Paschal Morlino was accused of harassing a man years ago. In 2018, a complaint was filed with the Archdiocese about Morlino, citing multiple concerns, but did not include any information about the issues that led to a settlement diocesan officials said they were unaware of previously. The man reportedly harassed by Morlino was deceased, and the third-party allegation could not be corroborated.

Leaders with the archdiocese said they did not know of a $200,000 settlement Morlino paid until Thursday, when the Baltimore Banner asked about the payment.

An internal investigation began and within 24 hours church officials removed Morlino, 85, as pastor of Saint Benedict Church in Southwest Baltimore by the archdiocese and the Benedictines and his priestly faculties were jointly suspended, the archdiocese said in a statement. Morlino is no longer permitted to celebrate Mass or engage in public ministry in the Archdiocese.

The Baltimore Banner reported that Morlino, known as the “urban monk” of Southwest Baltimore who led St. Benedict Church for decades, paid to settle allegations of fraud and sexual assault. He has not been criminally charged.

On Thursday, Morlino spoke to The Banner at the church, saying he had nothing to hide. He confirmed the paid $200,000 to the man who accused him of rape but denied that he had assaulted or defrauded the man. A parishioner told Banner reporters the abuse happened to a friend who went on a vacation cruise with the priest.

“I just wanted to keep him quiet, to be rid of him, because he was just stirring up trouble,” Morlino told the news site. “My conscience is clear; it’s all stuff that he made up.”

Morlino, 85, was not named in a recent attorney general’s report on the history of sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on Sept. 26 released a substantially unredacted version of a grand jury report detailing allegations of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the cover-up of that abuse by Catholic Church leadership.

The announcement came more than a month after a judge ordered the release of the unredacted report, which was expected to reveal all but three names blacked out in the original report released in April.

"The court's order enables my office to continue to lift the veil of secrecy over decades of horrifying abuse suffered by the survivors," Brown said in a statement in August.

• RELATED: Unredacted Baltimore Archdiocese Sex Abuse Report To Be Released

The new report is available to view on the Maryland attorney general's website.

While the new report contains fewer redactions, seven names — two abusers and five members of the clergy — remain blacked out.

Brown said some names in the report remain redacted as those individuals appeal the court's August ruling to disclose their identities. The appeals are ongoing, Brown said.

"Depending on the outcome of those appeals, the Office may release a further version of the report at a later time," Brown said.

The original 463-page report detailed "a long history of widespread abuse and systemic cover-up by clergy," Brown previously said. It also identified nearly 160 former and current priests, as well as other members of the church who are accused of sexually abusing more than 600 children over eight decades.

Morlino has returned to his religious community, Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The archdiocese and Benedictines intend to conduct further investigation.

The archdiocese will appoint a new administrator to oversee Saint Benedict Church, which is owned and operated by the Benedictines.

Anyone wishing to report past abuse by clergy members can do so by calling the attorney general's office at 410-576-6312 or emailing report@oag.state.md.us.

Inappropriate conduct by Father Morlino or any representative of the church can also be reported to the Archdiocese of Baltimore by calling the Ethics line at 1-888-572-8026 or by visiting www.archbalt.org and clicking on “Report Misconduct” at the top of the page.

Read the Baltimore Banner interview with Father Morlino on its website.