Baltimore Church to Close Following Suspension of Longtime Pastor Over Sexual Harassment Settlement

The Archdiocese of Baltimore decided to close St. Benedict Church after suspending 85-year-old Father Paschal Morlino who admitted to paying 'hush money' to settle a sexual harassment complaint from 2018; while few details have been released about the case, the church, which will continue to host community events, will not be getting a new priest due to the limited number of clergy available.

• Father Paschal Morlino, who served as the pastor at St. Benedict Church in southwest Baltimore for nearly 40 years, was dismissed following the revelation that he made a payment to settle sexual harassment allegations from 2018.
• The Archdiocese of Baltimore decided to close the St. Benedict Church following Morlino's suspension, citing the limited number of clergy available as a reason for not replacing him.
• The church officials have released few details about the 2018 complaint, which alleged sexual harassment of an adult man, with the complainant passing away in 2020.
• St. Benedict Church is owned and operated by Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, the oldest Benedictine monastery in the U.S, from where 85-year old Morlino returned after his suspension.
• Despite the closure, the church will continue to host community events and outreach programs, while an outreach team will be provided to assist parishioners or help them seek Catholic pastoral services at nearby parishes.

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