Religion

“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.

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.

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.

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.

The investigation identified three of the clergy members and one church official whose names were redacted from the report.

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.

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.”

For decades, priests accused of abuse were sent for treatment that was ineffective or not medically based, and then returned to service, often in different states. Many went on to reoffend.

The investigation not only highlights the conduct of priests and church leaders, but also the actions — and inaction — of police officers, prosecutors and judges.

Sister Francis Marie Yocum is accused of sexually abusing a 16- or 17-year-old student who was taking private voice lessons.

Five priests are known to have abused children while serving at St. Mark. Another seven abused children before or after they served at the Catonsville parish.

Deep within the litany of outrages by the Catholic Church documented by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General report, there is a revelation as shocking as the predatory priests or the religious bureaucracy eager to hide its sins.

The filings kept on a handful of priests were known as “The Bad Boy Files,” 32 names were not to include on the church's credibly accused list, and colluding with the Archdiocese of Washington were revealed in the investigation.

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General on Wednesday released the 456-page grand jury report, but litigation over issues including redactions will continue to play out.

Maskell is accused of abusing at least 39 people and doing nothing about colleagues who also abused children.

The Scan: Inside the Catholic Church child sex abuse report, Frederick County sheriff indicted, Grayson Rodriguez debuts with the Orioles, and more.

The examples include priests who asked victims to delay reporting their abuse so they could reach retirement age; prosecutors who agreed not to pursue criminal charges against known abusers; and even a secret deal with a Baltimore County judge to resolve a case quietly.

The Banner has made a searchable database of every sex abuser identified in the report, including the 32 names not previously known publicly.

Baltimore Catholic church covered up ‘horrific and repeated abuse’ at children’s expense, report says. Check out more stories in our P.M. Scan newsletter.

“We have issued subpoenas. We have been looking into this matter. And we will continue to do so,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said on Wednesday.