SNAP Calling for Abp. Lori’s Resignation Amid New Revelations

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BALTIMORE (ChurchMilitant.com) - A victim advocacy group is once again calling for the resignation of Baltimore's archbishop.

On Monday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called for a change in power after the revelation that known abusers were left in power to this day by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Vice President Abp. William Lori. 

"We call on Lori today to immediately remove all five of these church officials from their pastoral duties and remove them from being in active ministry," declared David Lorenz, director of the Maryland SNAP chapter, at a Monday press conference. "When we find out that our Abp. Lori is allowing these priests to remain in ministry — who helped cover up — it's time for him to step aside and be removed as bishop of Baltimore."

The statement comes after the Baltimore Sun released the names of five Church officials "who acted to shield abusive priests from accountability over the last three decades." Their names were redacted from the attorney general's report, and four of the five officials are still ministering within the archdiocese. 

"Official A" is reported to be Msgr. Bruce Jarboe, pastor of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Hagerstown.

"Official B" is said to be Most Rev. Richard Woy, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Crofton. According to the Baltimore Sun, "State investigators found he helped enable the misconduct of the notorious Fr. A. Joseph Maskell, whose multiple instances of abuse were spotlighted in the 2017 Netflix docuseries 'The Keepers.'" 

"Official C" is purported to be Bp. W. Francis Malooly, former auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Baltimore, who retired in 2021 as bishop of Wilmington, Delaware.

"Official D" is identified as Most Rev. George B. Moeller, who is retired, but celebrates Mass regularly for his fellow residents at Mercy Ridge, a senior living community.

"Official E" is designated as retired Msgr. G. Michael Schleupner, who is a "weekend presider" at Our Lady of Grace in Parkton.

In reaction, abuse victim Frank Schindler declared, "There are two parts to this: There are the perpetrators. There's the perpetrator who violated me 45 times, that's one part of it. But the other part is the cover-up, and that's the part that we have to address."

Tuesday, The New York Post published an article detailing an upcoming "historic class-action lawsuit against the archdiocese."

The lawyers filing the civil suit are Adam Slater and Ben Crump. Crump is known for representing the families of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Teresa Lancaster, another abuse victim, encouraged people not to remain silent: "I want to ensure the victims today that you are not alone. Things have changed. We need to catch these predators, and please come forward."

The April sex abuse report from the Maryland attorney general's office identified 600 children abused at the hands of 156 predator priests.

In his pastoral letter "Apology, Healing, and Action: The Church's Work to Repair Sacred Trust," Abp. Lori proclaimed, "Apology is only a beginning. Healing requires action. As Pope Francis said in a 2023 message released worldwide: Victim–survivors must not only be asked for their forgiveness, the Church must also provide 'concrete actions to repair the horrors they have suffered and to prevent them from happening again.'"

Critics question Lori's sincerity after he allowed the cover-up clerics whose names were redacted in the report to continue on in ministry. 

Lori worked with Cdl. Wilton Gregory and the now defrocked homopredator ex-Cdl. Theodore McCarrick to form the bishop-protecting 2002 Dallas Charter.

While serving as bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Lori fought to have clerical sex abuse records concealed, until 2009, when the U.S. Supreme Court forced him to release the names contained therein. Bridgeport — where Lori served as bishop from 2001–2012 — was a hub for gay priests and seminarians.

According to a 2021 report by Church Miltant, "It became common knowledge among clergy and seminarians that Bridgeport diocesan priests were involved in the gay pipeline and hookup culture that centered around gay bars in the Bridgeport and New Haven areas."

"The meetings in the Bridgeport diocese would involve priests and seminarians traveling by car, and at times in separate cars, to predetermined locations at specific times for the purpose of attending gay parties and gatherings at so-called gay hotspots," the report revealed.

Church Militant's Michael Voris, in a 2021 episode of The Vortex, commented, "Lori is either a dirtbag who knew about this and ignored it or is so highly negligent in what he should have known about it that he should be removed from his role immediately."

Despite the controversy, neither the Vatican nor the USCCB have responded. At the bishops' 2022 fall meeting, Lori was elected vice president of the U.S. bishops' conference.

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