April 6th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Attorney General’s office has released its report of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore and several clergy have served in Allegany County. The report is the culmination of an intensive 4-year investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy and cover-up of that abuse by leadership in the Catholic Church. Of the 156 named to have credible allegations, 16 have served in some capacity in Allegany County. Names include Father Michael Barnes, Father Ronald Belschner, Monsignor Thomas Bevan, Father Frederick Duke, Deacon Joseph Firlie, Father Marion Helowicz, Father Joseph Hopkins, and Father Robert Hopkins, Brother Geoffrey Langan, Father Regis Larkin, Father Ronald Michaud, Father Francis Roscetti, Monsignor Richard Smith, and Father Michael Spillane. The complete report is available on the Maryland Attorney General’s website.

The report details the abuse known to have been committed and failures to act by church officials in response. The complete report is available on the Maryland Attorney Generals website.