The Archdiocese of Baltimore has announced that it will be ceasing religious services at one of its Catholic churches following the suspension of its long-serving pastor. Father Paschal Morlino admitted to making a payment several years ago to settle allegations of sexual harassment, leading to his dismissal last month from St. Benedict Church in southwest Baltimore.
Father Morlino had served at St. Benedict Church for almost four decades and had gained recognition for his efforts in assisting residents of impoverished neighborhoods surrounding the church. However, the details surrounding the 2018 complaint against him have been kept under wraps. Church officials have only revealed that the complaint involved the alleged sexual harassment of an adult man, and the complainant unfortunately passed away in 2020. The lawyer representing the complainant has declined to comment due to a non-disclosure agreement.
In addition to the 2018 complaint, the archdiocese is now investigating another allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Morlino, dating back to 1993. The pastor has denied this allegation. These new developments have prompted the Archabbey of Saint Vincent in Pennsylvania, which owns and operates St. Benedict Church, to announce that they will not be appointing a new pastor to replace Morlino. They cited a limited number of available clergy as the reason behind this decision.
Father Morlino, aged 85, has returned to the Pennsylvania monastery following his suspension. While St. Benedict Church will continue to host community events and outreach programs, parishioners will be redirected to other churches for Mass and other religious services.
The archdiocese became aware of the settlement involving Father Morlino when reporters from The Baltimore Banner reached out for information. This prompted an immediate internal investigation, which resulted in Morlino’s dismissal. Recognizing the impact of these events on the parishioners, the archdiocese has pledged to provide an outreach team to assist them and ensure they can access Catholic pastoral services at nearby parishes if desired.
