Catholic church to close after longtime pastor suspended over harassment settlement

BALTIMORE — The Archdiocese of Baltimore will finish spiritual products and services at one of the crucial town’s Catholic church buildings after its longtime pastor was once not too long ago suspended from ministry as a result of he admitted to creating a cost a number of years in the past to settle sexual harassment allegations.

Last month, Father Paschal Morlino was once pushed aside from his place at St. Benedict Church in southwest Baltimore, the place he served for just about 40 years and become identified for his efforts to lend a hand citizens of deficient neighborhoods surrounding the church.

Few information about the 2018 grievance in opposition to Morlino were launched. Church officers have stated they seemed “alleged sexual harassment of an adult man.” The complainant died in 2020 and a legal professional representing him within the case has declined to remark mentioning a non-disclosure settlement.

Officials with the archdiocese additionally stated in a observation Saturday that they’re investigating some other grievance in opposition to Morlino involving sexual abuse of a minor. They stated the abuse allegedly befell in 1993. Morlino denied the allegation, in accordance to the observation.

St. Benedict is owned and operated by means of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, the oldest Benedictine monastery within the nation. In a separate joint observation with the archdiocese on Saturday, monastery leaders stated they wouldn’t title a brand new pastor to change Morlino. They stated the “difficult decision was made based on the limited number of clergy available.”

Morlino, 85, returned to the monastery in Pennsylvania after being suspended from his task as pastor.

The church in Baltimore will proceed to host neighborhood occasions and outreach methods, however officers stated that parishioners are being rerouted different church buildings for Mass and different spiritual products and services.

The archdiocese stated it realized concerning the settlement ultimate month when newshounds for The Baltimore Banner inquired about it. Officials stated they in an instant opened an inside investigation and made up our minds to disregard Morlino.

“We understand that this news comes at a difficult time for the parishioners,” officers stated within the Saturday observation. “An outreach team will be available to assist parishioners and if they wish, help them receive Catholic pastoral services at nearby parishes.”