Report into Archdiocese of Baltimore abuse scandal reveals how church protected priests

BALTIMORE - The Maryland Attorney General's scathing report into abuses within the Archdiocese of Baltimore exposed many cases where members of the church and law enforcement colluded to protect priests and others within the Catholic church. 

"Time and again, leaders failed to properly investigate, report or remove the offending priests from positions with access to children," the report states. 

The Maryland Attorney General released the 456-page investigation that details 158 clergy, teachers, seminarians and deacons within the Archdiocese of Baltimore allegedly assault more than 600 children going back to the 1940s.

In many cases, the landmark report revealed, the church knew of abusers and went to extraordinary lengths to protect them. Some even secured deals with local prosecutors to turn a blind eye, the investigation shows.

Behind the names of these alleged abusers in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are hundreds of victims still living with the pain.

One example is teacher John Merzbacher who is now in prison.

The report cites numerous times victims and their parents tried to notify those in power about Merzbacher and nothing was done.

Liz Murphy, one of Merzbacher's many victims, recently spoke to WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. 

"At the age of 11, 12 and 13, he raped me, he threatened me, he put a gun to my head," Murphy said. "John Merzbacher going to jail will never restore my childhood or all that I have lost from his brutality. But [his conviction] was only half justice. The other half has been how the Archdiocese of Baltimore has never been held accountable."

Murphy testified multiple times before the attorney general's investigators and believes everyone needs to see the full, unredacted findings—hoping they will provide some measure of justice.

"Over and over again, the church that I grew up loving put their power, prestige and possessions above the lives of children entrusted in their care. Over and over again. And so this report that hopefully will be released will not change a thing but it might make justice whole," Murphy said. "What I know for certain is that the church could fall into the sea tomorrow, but it does not change one bit my faith."

She told Hellgren, "I am still faithful, and I am grateful for what I learned. The difference is I believed it."

Another repeat abuser, Father Joseph Maskell, who was highlighted in the Netflix documentary "The Keepers."

The report said the archdiocese was made aware of abuse as early as 1966 but allowed him to remain in positions of power with access to children for decades and provided financial support of $242,000 in 2000 alone.

Father William Simms once lived with Maskell.

The report stated, "Lawyers for the Archdiocese successfully worked to secure for Simms broad immunity from criminal prosecution" in a deal with the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney in the 1980s.

An assistant state's attorney wrote at the time, "I agree on behalf of the State's Attorney's Office not to prosecute Father Simms for any incidents of child abuse he discusses with [county police investigators], no matter how serious, and whether we already know about them or not."

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the findings revealed even a judge was involved in the cover-up in one instance his team investigated.

In another case, the late Father John Banko was accused of abuse in Cockeysville yet went on to abuse children at while serving the church in New Jersey, for which he was later convicted.

Banko was described at sentencing as a "repetitive and compulsive" sex offender.

When it comes to accountability, the report noted, "There are a number of senior members of the Archdiocese involved in and advising the handling of child abuse worthy of mention." 

What follows are numerous black lines showing the redactions: Five names that were removed by a judge before the report was made public. 

Archbishop William Lori has apologized for past abuse and how it was handled. He said the church has radically changed does not tolerate this conduct. You can read his full statement here.

You can read the entire report here.

In:
• WJZ Investigates