Catholic church investigation

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judge Michelle M. Harner on Thursday signed an order setting status conferences for April 8 and May 20 during which survivors of clergy sexual abuse can address the court in the Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case.

City officials attempted to block an Inner Harbor rally hosted by the far-right website Church Militant in November of 2021, but the event went forward after a federal judge sided with the group’s First Amendment lawsuit.

Look back at 15 compelling storylines from the greater Baltimore region.

“I think of what she could have done with her life,” said Joyce Malecki’s brother, Darryl, as he discussed the FBI exhuming her body Thursday. He hopes there will soon be a break in the 1969 killing, which was investigated in the Netflix series, “The Keepers.”

The FBI announced Thursday that it had completed the exhumation of Joyce Malecki from Loudon Park Cemetery. The Netflix documentary “The Keepers” explored whether Malecki’s murder was connected to the killing of Sister Cathy Cesnik in the early 1970s.

Family has been searching for answers since Malecki disappeared on Nov. 11, 1969. “We’re hoping for some closure.”

Parishioners are reeling from the abrupt dismissal of their longtime pastor, who was dismissed after The Banner found he had paid a settlement over an allegation of fraud and sexual abuse.

Officials told congregants Saturday that Catholic leadership has since learned of another allegation dating back to the 1990s against former Rev. Paschal Morlino.

Linda Malat Tiburzi, a survivor of the notorious child rapist John Merzbacher while a student at the Catholic Community School of Baltimore in the 1970s, died at age 62. She was an advocate for survivors of abuse and rejoiced at the release of the Office of the Maryland Attorney General’s report on child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Parish members are compiling information that they believe raises doubts about the allegations of fraud and sexual assault against their pastor of almost 40 years.

Rev. Paschal Morlino was removed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore amid allegations of a secret $200K settlement.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore launched an investigation into Rev. Paschal Morlino after he admitted the payment to The Baltimore Banner.

Judge also grants archdiocese request to continue paying salaries and benefits to employees and conduct routine financial business.

Archbishop William E. Lori said church leaders had weighed their options for months this summer before concluding that Chapter 11 bankruptcy was inevitable.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. last month ruled that redactions could be lifted for 43 of 46 names that were blacked out in the interim report, which came out on April 5.

Here’s a breakdown of what the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy proceeding could look like.

In a letter addressed Tuesday to “Friends in Christ,” Archbishop William E. Lori said he plans to consult in the coming days with various ordained and lay leaders about how the archdiocese should respond to the new law, which goes into effect Oct. 1.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Robert K. Taylor Jr. ruled that the Maryland Office of the Attorney General cannot release a new version of the report, unless otherwise directed, before Sept. 26.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Robert K. Taylor ordered the attorney general’s office may release a copy of the report with the redactions lifted next month.

A series of investigative news stories identified church figures whose names were redacted from the investigative report.