International Courant
A Benedictine monk has been suspended from ministry after the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore just lately turned conscious of a cost he made a number of years in the past to settle sexual harassment allegations.
Final week, Father Paschal Morlino was dismissed from his place as pastor of St. Benedict Church in southwest Baltimore, the place he served for practically 40 years and have become recognized for his longstanding efforts to assist residents of poor neighborhoods surrounding the church.
The archdiocese realized concerning the settlement Thursday when reporters for The Baltimore Banner inquired about it, officers mentioned in a press release Sunday. They mentioned they instantly opened an inner investigation and determined to dismiss Morlino.
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“He’s not permitted to rejoice Mass or interact in public ministry within the Archdiocese,” the assertion mentioned.
Morlino, 85, has returned to Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, the oldest Benedictine monastery within the nation, after each the Baltimore archdiocese and the Order of Saint Benedict made a joint choice to droop his priestly colleges, officers mentioned. The investigation is ongoing.
Kim Metzgar, communications director for Saint Vincent Archabbey, mentioned she was unable to remark due to the continued investigation.
A Baltimore monk has been suspended from ministry over a sexual harassment settlement he paid out in 2018.
The archdiocese will appoint a brand new administrator to supervise Saint Benedict Church, which is owned and operated by the Benedictines, in accordance with their assertion.
Church officers disclosed few particulars concerning the 2018 grievance towards Morlino, saying solely that it centered on “alleged sexual harassment of an grownup man” who had died earlier than the grievance was filed. Officers mentioned they had been unable to corroborate the third-party allegations in consequence.
In an interview final week with The Banner, Morlino confirmed the $200,000 settlement cost, denied any wrongdoing and mentioned he had nothing to cover.
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“I simply wished to maintain him quiet, to be rid of him, as a result of he was simply stirring up hassle,” he advised The Banner, referring to the complainant, who died in 2020.
An legal professional who represented the person didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Monday.
Morlino arrived at St. Benedict in 1984, a time of declining membership and waning curiosity within the church. Within the years that adopted, he led efforts to replace and enhance church buildings and strengthen the parish’s mission, in accordance with their web site.
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Earlier than coming to Baltimore, Morlino based Adelphoi Village, a nonprofit youngster care company that works with at-risk youth in Pennsylvania.
Baltimore monk suspended over 2018 sexual harassment settlement
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