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Religion

    (left) A historical picture of Gerry Koob; (right) Gerry Koob, as featured in the Netflix documentary "The Keepers"
    Women say ‘Keepers’ figure was unnamed rapist in Catholic abuse report
    Their stories were in the massive report on sex abuse in Baltimore’s Catholic archdiocese, but a key detail was missing: the name of one of the men who they say raped them.
    The Maryland Office of the Attorney General released the Catholic Church investigation papers. David Lorenz displays a redacted copy of the release.
    Will a Baltimore judge lift redactions from the Catholic Church abuse report?
    Closed-door hearings in Baltimore Circuit Court will decide whether the final details will be revealed in the report on child sex abuse within the archdiocese.
    The exterior of the Archdiocese of Baltimore building as seen on Monday, March 13.
    Former Archbishop Curley teacher, 41 others added to archdiocese list of accused clergy
    Some 39 of the names were first revealed in the attorney general’s report on the history of sex abuse within the church.
    Flannery Gallagher sits in front of a childhood photo of her deceased father, Frank X. Gallagher Jr., during a press conference announcing a lawsuit against St. Mary’s Seminary and the Archdiocese of Baltimore on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Flannery and Liam Gallagher, the children of Frank X. Gallagher Jr., say that after the abuse their father “experienced extreme emotional distress” and began experimenting with drugs and engaging in compulsive and risky sexual encounters.
    Gallagher family members sue Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Mary’s Seminary over father’s abuse and death
    Flannery and Liam Gallagher, the children of Frank X. Gallagher Jr., say that after the abuse their father “experienced extreme emotional distress” and began experimenting with drugs and engaging in compulsive and risky sexual encounters.
    Larry Little and Zulema Caldwell, steadfast members of Bethel AME Church, stand outside its historic location on Druid Hill Avenue on Sunday, June 18, 2023.
    Bethel AME Church wants its members’ stories
    Former and current members have a chance to contribute their personal stories about the church, which is recording its rich history.
    Mary Elizabeth Lange was a Black Catholic religious sister who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African American religious congregation. She was also, via the Oblates, the first-ever African American mother superior.
    Mother Mary Lange advances in process of sainthood
    Lange founded the country’s first African American religious order in Baltimore.
    The Baltimore Banner Sign is affixed to the Power Plant Building in downtown Baltimore.
    Commentary: At the one-year mark, The Banner is finding its voice in Baltimore
    The Baltimore Banner has taken strides in its first year to bring a new and original voice to local journalism, but challenges remain to successfully depart from the approaches of old-school newsrooms, Banner Public Editor DeWayne Wickham says.
    Photo collage of red torn image of Virgin Mary and child statue, with dark background that includes number 149 and redaction boxes.
    Final name stripped from Maryland report on Catholic sex abuse is nun from Philadelphia
    With the identification of the late Philadelphia nun, all the names have been unmasked in the attorney general report.
    The sun sets on Ames Memorial United Methodist Church on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
    ‘Healthcare village’ to bloom in Sandtown-Winchester
    Dwyer Workforce Development is now a partner of the Resurrection Sandtown project.
    Mary Jo Rogers pictured in her home on May 23, 2023 with her religious artifacts many of which are family heirlooms. Rogers says she feels betrayed by the church and can't go back. She still has her Catholic faith but it is seperate from the insitution.
    Stay, leave or convert: Some Catholics at a crossroads about religion amid sexual abuse allegations against priests
    People are leaving Catholicism because of the church abuse scandal among other reasons. But there are also people who chose to stay.
    Archdiocese of Baltimore
    The 10 Catholic Church figures unmasked in report on sex abuse within Archdiocese of Baltimore
    The Banner has identified seven church figures whose names were redacted from the recent report on child sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
    Photo collage showing statue of man cradling infant in arms next to image of priest and boy sitting in pews reading Bibles, overlayed with variety of short and long white redaction boxes.
    Unmasked: Catholic high school teacher returned to classroom after abuse claim
    A former teacher at the old Cardinal Gibbons High School has been identified as one of the redacted names in the attorney general's report on sex abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
    After someone removed the LGBTQ pride flag from the church, the congregation changed the message on the signboard.
    Police investigating stolen LGBTQ flag from Station North church
    The incident happened almost two weeks after an LGBTQ flag was torn down at a Federal Hill church.
    Liz Murphy and Linda Malat Tiburzi say a prayer and light candles in honor of their friend and former classmate Eddie Blair
    ‘Satan is dead’: Survivors react to death of notorious child sex abuser John Merzbacher
    “There is no safe place.” The prison death of notorious child rapist John Merzbacher, 81, brings small comfort to survivors of his abuse, who are still traumatized by the acts that went on in his classroom at the Catholic Community School of Baltimore in the 1970s.
    Photo collage showing cropped photographs of a woman’s eyes, statue of the Virgin Mary, and two elderly hands holding one another, with a red background and the silhouette of a rosary and crucifix layered on top.
    John Merzbacher, ex-Catholic schoolteacher who abused dozens of Baltimore children, has died
    John Merzbacher, a former teacher at Catholic Community School of Baltimore who was convicted of sexual abuse and the repeated rape of a student in the ’70s, has died.
    Photo collage of page from Baltimore archdiocese directory of parishes next to page from 1973 newspaper including photo of St. Ann’s in Baltimore, with red border and red redaction marks sprinkled over the image.
    Two more alleged Catholic Church abusers revealed: ‘It still haunts me’
    Two alleged abusers whose names were redacted in the Maryland Attorney General's report on child sexual abuse have been identified as Michael V. Scriber and the Rev. Joseph G. Fiorentino.
    David Lorenz speaks at sidewalk news conference along with abuse survivors and advocates who are part of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, on May 8, 2023 outside of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
    ‘They are all still at large’: Clergy abuse survivors call for suspensions, release of names after investigative articles
    Fallout begins over church sexual abuse report; one official, Monsignor Richard Woy, resigned from the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center’s board of directors.
    Archdiocese of Baltimore
    How clues in the Catholic Church abuse report helped The Banner uncover hidden clergy names
    The investigation identified three of the clergy members and one church official whose names were redacted from the report.
    Photo collage showing printout with some text redacted with black boxes. It has a rip in the middle of the page, revealing fuzzy photograph of priest underneath on red background.
    Secret no more: 3 priests from sex abuse report identified
    Reporters matched details in the Maryland attorney general's report into the Archdiocese of Baltimore to court transcripts, archdiocesan letters, church directories, news articles and other public documents.
    The exterior of the Archdiocese of Baltimore building as seen on Monday, March 13.
    Letters: At last, Baltimore Archdiocese abuse victims have their say
    Victims of alleged sexual abuse by clergy and others in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are finally being heard, says Gemma Hoskins, an alumna of Archbishop Keough High School who was featured in “The Keepers.”
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